Low-dose tacrolimus ameliorates liver inflammation and fibrosis in steroid refractory autoimmune hepatitis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of tacrolimus on clinical status, histopathological status and biochemical markers in patients with steroid refractory autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).


METHODS
Retrospectively, clinical parameters, biochemistry and histology were obtained from patient records.


RESULTS
Nine patients [8 females/1 male, median age 32 (range 16-64) years] were identified to have received tacrolimus for a median duration of 18 (12-37) mo. Before initiation of tacrolimus treatment the patients were maintained on a prednisolone dose of 20 mg daily (range 20-80 mg/d), which was tapered to 7.5 (5-12.5) mg/d (P=0.004). Alanine aminotransferase and immunoglobulin-G concentrations decreased from 154 (100-475) to 47(22-61) U/L (P=0.007), and from 16 (10-30.2) to 14.5 (8.4-20) g/L (P=0.032), respectively. All patients showed improvement of the liver inflammatory activity, as determined by the Ishak score (P=0.016), while the degree of fibrosis tended to decrease (P=0.049).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of low dose tacrolimus can lead to biochemical and histologic improvement of inflammation with no progression of the stage of fibrosis in patients with steroid refractory AIH. Low dose tacrolimus therapy also allows substantial reduction of prednisone dose.
Larsen
Fin Stolze
FS
Department of Hepatology A-2121, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Denmark. stolze@post3.tele.dk
Vainer
Ben
B
Eefsen
Martin
M
Bjerring
Peter Nissen
PN
Adel Hansen
Bent
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus