TY - JOUR
T1 - Rituximab for refractory autoimmune hepatitis
T2 - A case report
AU - Al-Busafi, Said A.
AU - Michel, René P.
AU - Deschenes, Marc
PY - 2013/9
Y1 - 2013/9
N2 - Auto-immune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic progressive hepatitis of unknown aetiology whose clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic to fulminant hepatic failure. Corticosteroids and azathioprine, which are considered standard therapy for AIH, may, however, be associated with treatment failures and toxicities. Among the alternative medications under investigation, rituximab, used to treat successfully various auto-immune disorders, has fewer side effects. We report herein the case of a 68-year-old woman who developed AIH with worsening clinical, laboratory and histological features despite high-dose prednisone. On rituximab, the patient showed rapid and dramatic clinical improvement, suggesting a therapeutic role for this medication in severe AIH. Indeed, prospective controlled studies are needed to assess and validate this role.
AB - Auto-immune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic progressive hepatitis of unknown aetiology whose clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic to fulminant hepatic failure. Corticosteroids and azathioprine, which are considered standard therapy for AIH, may, however, be associated with treatment failures and toxicities. Among the alternative medications under investigation, rituximab, used to treat successfully various auto-immune disorders, has fewer side effects. We report herein the case of a 68-year-old woman who developed AIH with worsening clinical, laboratory and histological features despite high-dose prednisone. On rituximab, the patient showed rapid and dramatic clinical improvement, suggesting a therapeutic role for this medication in severe AIH. Indeed, prospective controlled studies are needed to assess and validate this role.
KW - Auto-immune
KW - Hepatitis
KW - Rituximab
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84886293039&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84886293039&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ajg.2013.08.009
DO - 10.1016/j.ajg.2013.08.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 24206745
AN - SCOPUS:84886293039
SN - 1687-1979
VL - 14
SP - 135
EP - 138
JO - Arab Journal of Gastroenterology
JF - Arab Journal of Gastroenterology
IS - 3
ER -