Long-term Outcome of Autoimmune Hepatitis: Consecutive Patient Cohort and Data on the Second Twenty Years

Abstract

Background: Mortality rates for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) vary. Data are lacking beyond 20 years follow-up.

Aims: Analysis of a consecutively recruited large AIH cohort from a single non-transplant tertiary centre in England and an overlapping cohort, already followed for ≥ 20 years.

Methods: We assessed 330 patients presenting 1987-2016 and 65 patients presenting 1971-96 already followed for 20 years.

Results: Death/liver transplant rate was 51±4% (all-cause) and 21±4% (liver-related) over 20 years and was independently associated with: decompensation and lower serum ALT at diagnosis; and failure of serum ALT normalisation and higher relapse rate. There was excess mortality over the first year. Patients (n = 65) already followed for twenty years had similar subsequent rates of relapse, disease progression and mortality, to those followed from diagnosis. Azathioprine-intolerant patients (n = 23) switching to Mycophenolate did not have higher mortality over 4(1-17) years, than patients continuing Azathioprine. Following immunosuppression withdrawal (n = 26), six (23% patients) relapsed with no liver-related deaths over 2.3(0-23.1) years.

Conclusions: In this consecutive autoimmune hepatitis cohort, mortality was similar to that in national registry studies, disease progression continued after 20 years, and immunosuppression withdrawal did not compromise survival.

Keywords: Autoimmune hepatitis; Immunosuppression; Relapse.