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). CONCLUSION: 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.