Autoimmune liver disease: novelties in management.
Autoimmune liver disease is the second commonest cause of chronic liver disease in teenagers. There are several forms including autoimmune hepatitis, autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and various overlap syndromes, classified on the basis of different serum antibody profiles, histological features and appearances on cholangiography. Treatment with immunosupressants is usually effective, but often required medium to long-term, raising concerns about side effects and adherence to therapy. For a minority of children presenting in acute liver failure or with difficult-to-treat disease liver transplantation is a possible option, although risk of recurrence in the grafted liver remains lifelong.
Pediatric Centre for Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK. Electronic address: nedim.hadzic@kcl.ac.uk.
Nedim
N
Hadzic
Pediatric Liver Service, La Paz Children's University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
Loreto
L
Hierro
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002758:Cholangiography; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000906:Antibodies; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014640:Vancomycin