title: Autoimmune hepatitis: current knowledge.
abstract: Autoimmune hepatitis in children is of type 1, with antinuclear or anti-smooth muscle antibodies, more frequent in teenage girls, or of type 2, with anti-liver-kidney microsomes 1 and/or anti-liver cytosol 1 antibodies, in younger children. Other autoimmune diseases may be present in the patient or his relatives. The diagnosis relies on autoantibodies testing and histology. The treatment with steroids and azathioprine is efficient in most cases. Cyclosporine A is also successfully used. Relapses under treatment are frequent. A long-term treatment may be necessary. Liver transplantation is rarely indicated.
authors.affiliation: Medical School of Salerno, Salerno, Italy. pvajro@unisa.it
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vajro
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paolella
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000097:blood; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000276:immunology; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C060729:anti-liver kidney microsome antibody; D016572:Cyclosporine; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone