Low-dose Tacrolimus Ameliorates Liver Inflammation and Fibrosis in Steroid Refractory Autoimmune Hepatitis

Overview

Journal World J Gastroenterol

Publisher Baishideng Publishing Group

Specialty Gastroenterology

Date 2007 Jun 26

PMID 17589903

Citations 35

Authors

Fin Stolze Larsen

Ben Vainer

Martin Eefsen

Peter Nissen Bjerring

Bent Adel Hansen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aim: To determine the efficacy of tacrolimus on clinical status, histopathological status and biochemical markers in patients with steroid refractory autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).

Methods: Retrospectively, clinical parameters, biochemistry and histology were obtained from patient records.

Results: Nine patients [8 females/1 male, median age 32 (range 16-64) years] were identified to have received tacrolimus for a median duration of 18 (12-37) mo. Before initiation of tacrolimus treatment the patients were maintained on a prednisolone dose of 20 mg daily (range 20-80 mg/d), which was tapered to 7.5 (5-12.5) mg/d (P=0.004). Alanine aminotransferase and immunoglobulin-G concentrations decreased from 154 (100-475) to 47(22-61) U/L (P=0.007), and from 16 (10-30.2) to 14.5 (8.4-20) g/L (P=0.032), respectively. All patients showed improvement of the liver inflammatory activity, as determined by the Ishak score (P=0.016), while the degree of fibrosis tended to decrease (P=0.049).

Conclusion: The use of low dose tacrolimus can lead to biochemical and histologic improvement of inflammation with no progression of the stage of fibrosis in patients with steroid refractory AIH. Low dose tacrolimus therapy also allows substantial reduction of prednisone dose.

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