Background: The International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group have proposed a scoring system for diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in adults.Aims: To evaluate the efficiency of the scoring system in children.Patients and methods: We observed 30 children (26 girls, 4 boys) age 7-15 years with AIH. The average follow-up period was 35 +- 3 months. Blood serum of all the patients was tested for ANA, SMA, anti-LKM 1, routine biochemical parameters, HBV, HCV, HAV markers, and morphological examination of liver specimens was performed. The scoring system was used in all children.Results: All the patients were found to have ANA and/or SMA in serum: ANA in 21 patients, SMA in 24 (titre range 1:20-1:1280). Fifteen patients were positive for both ANA and SMA. Anti-LKM 1 was not found in any of the tested patients. ALT/AST serum levels in all children exceeded 2-20 times normal values. -v-Globulin level was elevated by 22-40% in 20 and 41-55% in 10 patients. IgG level was 1.5-2.5 times higher than normal in all children. All patients were negative for hepatitis B and C virus markers. Applying the AIH scoring system, 17 of 30 (58%) children had 'definite' and the other 13 'probable' AIH before treatment. Repeating the counting score 1 year after the introduction of immuno-suppressive therapy which was effective, 21 (70%) children fulfilled the criteria for 'definite' and 9 children remained in the category of 'probable' AIH.
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