title: Autoimmune hepatitis in Iranian children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical and para-clinical presentation, including autoantibody pattern and response to treatment in Iranian children with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of 60 children presenting with AIH (56 girls) were analyzed retrospectively for clinical, serological and histological profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical findings included jaundice (67%),hepatomegaly (50%) and ascites (30%). Forty children (38 girls) had type I AIH and 14 (12 girls) had type II AIH. Liver histology was comparable in the two groups and cirrhosis on initial biopsy was equally frequent in Types I and II AIH (63% vs 34%; p=ns).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study describes the presentation and clinical course of Iranian children with AIH. Treatment with corticosteroids and/or azathioprine induces remission of autoimmune hepatitis clinically, biochemically as well as histologically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. mrafeey@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mandana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rafeey
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kianrad
authors.forename: Alka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001379:Azathioprine