Application of the 2010 American Association for the study of liver diseases criteria of remission to a cohort of Italian patients with autoimmune hepatitis.

摘要

We read with great interest the practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of autoimmune hepatitis recently issued by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). In particular, we appreciate the new definition of biochemical remission, which now requires not only normal bilirubin and gamma-globulin levels but also normal serum aminotransfer-ases; this is at variance with the 2002 definition,2 which considers aminotransferase levels lower than twice the upper limits of normal to be sufficient. According to the 2002 criteria, nearly 80% of patients with autoimmune hepatitis enter remission within 3 years. The recently coined new definition will result in a tremendous change in the rate of response to immunosuppressive treatment for autoimmune hepatitis.