Therapeutic effects of azathioprine in combination with low-dose prednisolone in patients with intractable autoimmune hepatitis type 1

• Published in: Acta medica Okayama Vol. 55; no. 6; pp. 341 - 347
• Main Authors: Takenami, T, Sakaguchi, K, Nishimura, M, Miyake, Y, Miyashita, M, Terao, M, Fujiwara, A, Tsuji, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan 01.12.2001
• Subjects: Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Azathioprine - therapeutic use; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Hepatitis, Autoimmune - classification; Hepatitis, Autoimmune - drug therapy; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Male; Middle Aged; Prednisolone - administration & dosage; Prednisolone - therapeutic use; Recurrence; Retreatment; Treatment Failure
• ISSN: 0386-300X

This study evaluated the effects of azathioprine in combination with low-dose prednisolone in the management of patients with intractable autoimmune hepatitis. Thirteen patients with intractable autoimmune hepatitis who had an incomplete or arrested response to conventional prednisolone therapy, or who relapsed during prednisolone maintenance therapy were additionally administered 50 or 100 mg/day of azathioprine in combination with prednisolone. This regimen reliably induced complete remission in 12 of 13 patients, and these 12 remained in remission during the follow-up period with maintenance therapy of 50 mg/day of azathioprine in combination with 5 mg/day of prednisolone. The findings of the current study indicate that the azathioprine and low-dose prednisolone combined therapy may offer a satisfactory alternative therapy for patients with intractable autoimmune hepatitis who have an incomplete or arrested response to conventional prednisolone therapy, or who relapse during prednisolone maintenance therapy.