Diagnostic criteria for autoimmune hepatitis in children: A challenge for pediatric hepatologists
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a progressive inflammatory liver disorder that is rare in children and adolescents. AIH has a broad clinical spectrum and a quick response to treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive medication. The available diagnosis criteria have limitations and should be...
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Published in | World journal of gastroenterology : WJG Vol. 18; no. 33; pp. 4470 - 4473 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
United States
Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited
07.09.2012
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a progressive inflammatory liver disorder that is rare in children and adolescents. AIH has a broad clinical spectrum and a quick response to treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive medication. The available diagnosis criteria have limitations and should be evaluated in pediatric populations. Recently, some studies reported that the 2008 simplified diagnostic criteria for AIH could be used in children with high sensibility and specificity. In addition, the authors reported that globulin and immunoglobulin G levels can be used interchangeably for diagnostic purposes. They also demonstrated that the 2008 simplified criteria fail in identifying patients with fulminant hepatic failure. Here, we discuss the limitations of the use of these criteria in pediatric patients and the requirement of more studies to improve the diagnosis of AIH in children. |
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Bibliography: | Child Autoimmune hepatitis Liver diseases Diagnosis Autoimmunity 14-1219/R Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a progressive inflammatory liver disorder that is rare in children and adolescents. AIH has a broad clinical spectrum and a quick response to treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive medication. The available diagnosis criteria have limitations and should be evaluated in pediatric populations. Recently, some studies reported that the 2008 simplified diagnostic criteria for AIH could be used in children with high sensibility and specificity. In addition, the authors reported that globulin and immunoglobulin G levels can be used interchangeably for diagnostic purposes. They also demonstrated that the 2008 simplified criteria fail in identifying patients with fulminant hepatic failure. Here, we discuss the limitations of the use of these criteria in pediatric patients and the requirement of more studies to improve the diagnosis of AIH in children. ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23 ObjectType-Commentary-1 Correspondence to: Ana Cristina Simões e Silva, MD, PhD, National Institute of Science and Technology of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Avenida Alfredo Balena 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30130-100, Brazil. acssilva@hotmail.com Author contributions: Ferri PM collected the materials and wrote the manuscript; Ferreira AR and Miranda DM discussed the topic and revised the text; Simões e Silva AC conceived the manuscript and made the general supervision. Telephone: +55-31-93600007 Fax: +55-31-34099772 |
ISSN: | 1007-9327 2219-2840 |
DOI: | 10.3748/wjg.v18.i33.4470 |