Autoimmune liver diseases in the Asia-Pacific region: Proceedings of APASL symposium on AIH and PBC 2016

Hepatic and Extrahepatic Characteristics of Autoimmune Hepatitis: A 23-year Hospital-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

The characteristics of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in Asia mostly remain elusive.

METHODS

A cohort study of liver biopsy-proven AIH patients was conducted in a tertiary care cancer of Taiwan.

RESULTS

From 1999 to 2022, of 13,766 patients who underwent liver biopsy, 150 patients with AIH were enrolled. The female-to-male ratio was 2.26. At baseline, the mean age was 51.09 years, mean alanine aminotransferase level was 494.11 U/L, and 17 (11.3%) had cirrhosis. All except one patient had AIH type 1. The females were older and had higher baseline cirrhosis rates than did the males. The 23-year cumulative incidences of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mortality/liver transplantation, autoimmune diseases and extrahepatic cancer were 64.2%, 13.3%, 23.4%, 30.7% and 21.2%, respectively. The 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 5-year, 10-year and 20-year postimmunosuppressive therapy relapse rates were 60%, 78.2%, 81.8%, 89.1%, 94.5% and 100%, respectively. Baseline associations were as follows: alkaline phosphatase (Alk-p) levels with postimmunosuppressive therapy flare [hazard ratio (HR): 1.003; 95% CI HR: 1.000-1.005]; age with HCC (1.072; 1.010-1.138) and all-cause cancer (1.041;1.005-1.079); cirrhosis with mortality/liver transplantation (11.933;1.984-71.787); and antinuclear antibody (ANA) titers with mortality/liver transplantation (1.001;1.000-1.003), cirrhosis (1.001;1.000-1.002), and autoimmune diseases (1.001; 1.000-1.002).

CONCLUSION

In an Asian country endemic for viral hepatitis, the female-to-male and baseline cirrhosis rates of AIH patients were lower than expected, while over 60% of the patients eventually developed cirrhosis. The high posttherapy relapse rate warrants cautious monitoring, particularly for patients with high baseline Alk-p levels. Baseline age, cirrhosis status and ANA titers are crucial for outcomes.

Evolutionary relationship between antimitochondrial antibody positivity and primary biliary cholangitis in Taiwan: a 16-year hospital cohort study

Background

How antimitochondrial antibody (AMA)-positive patients evolve to have primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in viral hepatitis-endemic areas is unknown.

Objectives

We aimed to investigate this evolution in Taiwan.

Design/methods

A 16-year medical center-based cohort study of 2,095,628 subjects was conducted in Taiwan, an Asian country endemic to viral hepatitis. AMA-positive subjects were those with positive AMA with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ⩽1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), and PBC was defined as positive AMA with ALP >1.5 × ULN.

Results

AMA-positive subjects had a lower average age- and sex-adjusted prevalence than PBC patients (4.68/105 versus 11.61/105, p = 0.0002), but their incidence was comparable (0.99/105 versus 1.12/105, p = 0.36). The former group had a borderline significantly lower mean age (56.59 years versus 58.10 years, p = 0.06) and a lower female-to-male ratio (2.85:1 versus 5.44:1, p < 0.0001). Both AMA-positive subjects (prevalence change: 20.0%, p < 0.01; incidence change: -9.2%, p < 0.01) and PBC patients (prevalence change: 14.6%, p < 0.01; incidence change: -4.7%, p < 0.01) prevalence rate increased but the incidence rate decreased. Among the 423 AMA-positive subjects, 77 (18.2%) developed PBC, for a mean duration of 1.757 years. Compared with AMA-positive subjects, PBC patients had similar concurrent chronic hepatitis B (CHB) rates (2.7% versus 4.3%, p = 0.197) but lower chronic hepatitis C (CHC) rates (3.69% versus 15.60%, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

PBC was more prevalent than AMA-positive subjects, and PBC patients had a higher female-to-male ratio than AMA-positive subjects, of whom 18.2% developed PBC (mean lag: 1.757 years). Upward trends in prevalence rates and downward trends in incidence rates were noted for both AMA-positive subjects and PBC. CHB was rare, CHC was more prevalent among PBC patients than the general population, and CHC was less prevalent among PBC than among AMA-positive subjects.

Evaluation of autoimmune liver disease natural history in patients referred to Middle East Liver Diseases (MELD) center

BACKGROUND

Autoimmune liver diseases (AILD) are increasing and common forms of chronic liver disease (CLD) with different clinical responses and characteristics which can result in cirrhosis. This study aimed to investigate the natural history and characteristics of AILD in an Iranian population.

METHODS

Patients with AILD [Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH), Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) and Overlap Syndrome (OS)] referred to Middle East Liver Diseases (MELD) center, Tehran, Iran, between January 2002 and December 2022 were included in this retrospective cohort study. The main features of natural history (the trends of liver functional tests (LFT), Auto-Antibodies, response to treatment and cirrhotic status) along with demographic data were studied.

RESULTS

Two hundred sixty-five patients (160 (60.4%) AIH, 37 (14.0%) PBC, 20 (7.5%) PSC, 48 (18.1%) overlap syndrome) with a median follow-up time of 5 years (IQR 4 to 8 years) were included. Baseline laboratory tests revealed that patients with AIH exhibit elevated transaminase levels. However, patients suffering from PBC and PSC displayed increased alkaline phosphatase levels. Conversely, in overlap syndrome patients, both transaminases and alkaline phosphatase were observed at high levels. Autoantibodies represented themselves as important diagnostic markers for the AIH and PBC but not for PSC. The complete response occurred in 112 (70%) of and 28 (58.4%) patients with AIH and overlap syndrome respectively and 21 patients 11 (6.9%) of AIH and 10 (20.8%) of overlap syndrome) were non-responders. Other patients in these two categories were considered as insufficient responders. On the other side, 32 (91.9%) and 8 (40%) of patients with PBC and PSC biochemically responded to Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA). Unpredictably, cirrhosis regression was observed in some AIH and PBC patients.

CONCLUSION

Appropriate medication management for AILD patients may leads to regression from cirrhosis and improvement of manifestations; while discontinuation of medication may cause relapses. However, patient suffering from PSC showed limited response to treatment.

Diagnostic role of transient elastography in patients with autoimmune liver diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Noninvasive methods have been developed to detect fibrosis in many liver diseases due to the limits of liver biopsy. However, previous studies have focused primarily on chronic viral hepatitis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The diagnostic value of transient elastography for autoimmune liver diseases (AILDs) is worth studying.

AIM

To compare the diagnostic accuracy of imaging techniques with serum biomarkers of fibrosis in AILD.

METHODS

The PubMed, Cochrane Library and EMBASE databases were searched. Studies evaluating the efficacy of noninvasive methods in the diagnosis of AILDs [autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)] were included. The summary area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), diagnostic odds ratio, sensitivity and specificity were used to assess the accuracy of these noninvasive methods for staging fibrosis.

RESULTS

A total of 60 articles were included in this study, and the number of patients with AIH, PBC and PSC was 1594, 3126 and 501, respectively. The summary AUROC of transient elastography in the diagnosis of significant fibrosis, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with AIH were 0.84, 0.88 and 0.90, respectively, while those in patients with PBC were 0.93, 0.93 and 0.91, respectively. The AUROC of cirrhosis for patients with PSC was 0.95. However, other noninvasive indices (aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index, aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio, fibrosis-4 index) had corresponding AUROCs less than 0.80.

CONCLUSION

Transient elastography exerts better diagnostic accuracy in AILD patients, especially in PBC patients. The appropriate cutoff values for staging advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis ranged from 9.6 to 10.7 and 14.4 to 16.9 KPa for PBC patients.

Primary biliary cholangitis: Epidemiology, prognosis, and treatment

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic autoimmune liver disease characterized by a destructive, small duct, and lymphocytic cholangitis, and marked by the presence of antimitochondrial antibodies. The incidence and prevalence of PBC vary widely in different regions and time periods, and although disproportionally more common among White non-Hispanic females, contemporary data show a higher prevalence in males and racial minorities than previously described. Outcomes largely depend on early recognition of the disease and prompt institution of treatment, which, in turn, are directly influenced by provider bias and socioeconomic factors. Ursodeoxycholic acid remains the initial treatment of choice for PBC, with obeticholic acid and fibrates (off-label therapy) reserved as add-on therapy for the management of inadequate responders or those with ursodeoxycholic acid intolerance. Novel and repurposed drugs are currently at different stages of clinical development not only for the treatment of PBC but also for its symptomatic management. Here, we summarize the most up-to-date data regarding the epidemiology, prognosis, and treatment of PBC, providing clinically useful information for its holistic management.

Clinical Features of COVID-19 Vaccine-Associated Autoimmune Hepatitis: A Systematic Review

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an inflammatory liver disease wherein the body's immune system instigates an attack on the liver, causing inflammation and hepatic impairment. This disease usually manifests in genetically predisposed individuals and is triggered by stimuli or environments such as viral infections, environmental toxins, and drugs. The causal role of COVID-19 vaccination in AIH remains uncertain. This review of 39 cases of vaccine-related AIH indicates that female patients above the age of 50 years or those with potential AIH risk factors may be susceptible to vaccine-related AIH, and the clinical features of vaccine-associated AIH are similar to those of idiopathic AIH. These features commonly manifest in patients after the first dose of vaccination, with symptom onset typically delayed by 10-14 days. The incidence of underlying liver disease in patients with potential health conditions associated to liver disease is similar to that of patients without preexisting illnesses. Steroid administration is effective in treating vaccine-related AIH-susceptible patients, with most patients experiencing improvement in their clinical symptoms. However, care should be taken to prevent bacterial infections during drug administration. Furthermore, the possible pathogenic mechanisms of vaccine-associated AIH are discussed to offer potential ideas for vaccine development and enhancement. Although the incidence of vaccine-related AIH is rare, individuals should not be deterred from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, as the benefits of vaccination significantly outweigh the risks.

Global burden of Liver Disease: 2023 Update

Liver disease accounts for 2 million deaths and is responsible for 4% of all deaths (1 out of every 25 deaths worldwide); approximately 2/3 of all liver related deaths occur in men. Deaths are largely attributable to complications of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, with acute hepatitis accounting for a smaller proportion of deaths. The most common causes of cirrhosis worldwide are related to viral hepatitis, alcohol, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Hepatotropic viruses are the etiological factor in most cases of acute hepatitis, but drug-induced liver injury increasingly accounts for a significant proportion of cases. This iteration of the global burden of liver disease is an update of the 2019 version and focuses mainly on areas where significant new information is available like alcohol-associated liver disease, NAFLD, viral hepatitis, and HCC. We also devote a separate section to the burden of liver disease in Africa, an area of the world typically neglected in such documents.

Primary Biliary Cholangitis in Males: Pathogenesis, Clinical Presentation, and Prognosis

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an immune-mediated chronic liver disease characterized by progressive cholestasis, bile duct destruction, biliary fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Patients who respond to ursodeoxycholic acid have an expected survival similar to the general population. Although PBC primarily affects females, the prevalence in males is higher than was previously believed, with contemporary studies suggesting a female-to-male ratio of 4-6:1. A diagnosis of PBC is often delayed among males because of the myth that PBC is rare in males.

Role of triglycerides as a predictor of autoimmune hepatitis with cirrhosis

Background

Metabolism-related indicators have been suggested as possible prognostic indicators of liver disease in recent relevant studies, but their value in predicting autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) cirrhosis is unclear. This study evaluated the role of lipid levels in determining the prognosis of AIH-related cirrhosis.

Methods

We retrospectively included 345 patients with AIH who were initially diagnosed at Beijing Ditan Hospital from 2010-2019, and ultimately screened 196 patients who met the criteria. A logistic regression analysis was performed to screen factors associated with cirrhosis. Kaplan–Meier (KM) curves were constructed to analyze the effects of different triglyceride (TG) levels on the survival of patients with cirrhosis. A restricted cubic spline fitted Cox regression model was used to analyze the nonlinear relationship between serum TG levels and patient prognosis.

Results

Patients with AIH cirrhosis have lower TG levels than those without cirrhosis. Lower serum TG levels correlated with the severity of cirrhosis. The survival analysis showed that TG levels were associated with the overall survival of patients with AIH, as a lower 5-year survival rate (log-rank P<0.05) was observed for patients in the TG≤0.95 mmol/L group (hazard ratio (HR)=3.79, 95% CI: 1.528-9.423). In addition, lower TG levels were associated with a higher incidence of death in patients with AIH cirrhosis. The risk of death gradually increased for the interval of TG levels of 0.5-0.8 mmol/L (P for nonlinearity<0.001), and the hazard ratio per standard deviation increase in the TG level was 0.97 (95% CI: 0.94-0.99). The plot showed a U-shaped relationship between TG levels and the survival of patients with decompensated cirrhosis. The risk ratio progressively decreased with lower TG levels (P for nonlinearity=0.002). Below 0.6 mmol/L, the probability of TG risk per standard deviation prediction was 1.49 (95% CI: 1.00-2.24).

Conclusion

Serum TG levels are closely related to the disease severity and overall survival of patients with AIH cirrhosis and may be used as a new indicator of advanced liver disease and long-term prognosis.

Epidemiology and surveillance of autoimmune hepatitis in Asia

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory liver disease that mainly injures the hepatocytes. The autoimmune disease might be involved in its aetiology, but this remains to be confirmed. Recently epidemiological studies of AIH in Asia have been broadly conducted, revealing characteristics and management of AIH patients in Asia. In East Asia, most AIH patients are type 1, and type 2 AIH is very rare. However, type 2 AIH in South Asia is as frequent as in Europe and the USA. HLA-DR4 is associated with the characteristics of type 1 AIH in East Asia, whereas HLA-DR3 occurs in AIH patients from South Asia. AIH prevalence worldwide is increasing, and several studies have reported a prevalence of 19.44, 22.80 and 12.99 per 100 000 people in Europe, the USA and Asia respectively. A meta-analysis of studies on AIH showed similar annual incidence rates for all regions, with 1.31, 1.37 and 1.00 per 100 000 people in Asia, Europe and the USA respectively. The increase in the rates could be attributable to the increased awareness of disease concepts and diagnosis. In South Asia, most cases were diagnosed as AIH only after having progressed to cirrhosis, which may cause a higher mortality rate in South Asia than in East Asia. Therefore, the early diagnosis and treatment of AIH patients can improve the current situation in Asia.

Autoimmune liver diseases in systemic rheumatic diseases

Systemic rheumatic diseases (SRDs) are chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disorders with the presence of autoantibodies that may affect any organ or system. Liver dysfunction in SRDs can be associated with prescribed drugs, viral hepatitis, alternative hepatic comorbidities and coexisting autoimmune liver diseases (AILDs), requiring an exclusion of secondary conditions before considering liver involvement. The patterns of overlap diseases depend predominantly on genetic determinants with common susceptible loci widely distributing in both disorders. In AILDs, it is important to identify the overlapping SRDs at an early stage since such a coexistence may influence the disease course and prognosis. Commonly co-occurring SRDs in AILDs are Sjögren syndrome (SS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), and SS, RA or systemic sclerosis in primary biliary cholangitis. Owing to different disease complications and therapies, it is imperative to differentiate between SLE liver involvement and SLE-AIH overlap disease. Therapeutic options can be personalized to control coexisting conditions of liver autoimmunity and rheumatic manifestations in AILD-SRD overlap diseases. The collaboration between hepatologists and rheumatologists can lead to significant advances in managing such a complex scenario. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview on coexisting AILDs in different SRDs and the therapeutic approach in managing these overlap diseases.

The Spectrum of Autoimmune Liver Disorders, Clinical Presentation, and Autoantibodies in Patients From a Tertiary Care Center in Pakistan

Background The autoimmune illnesses that affect the liver include autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and overlap syndrome. In our patients, we aimed to address the complete spectrum of autoimmune liver disorders, clinical presentation, and autoantibodies. Methods The study included all the patients diagnosed with autoimmune liver disorder irrespective of age, gender, and ethnic background presented at the liver clinic of the hospital in the last two years. The diagnosis was based on characteristic clinical and laboratory findings, the presence of one or more characteristic autoantibodies, and/or histological abnormalities. The diagnosis of AIH was further validated by revised International AIH Group criteria using a scoring calculator. The diagnostic criteria for PBC required the presence of chronic elevation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) with positive antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) or positive PBC-specific anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) (sp-100, gp-210) tests and/or compatible histology. The patients of AIH-PBC overlap syndrome fulfilled the criteria for AIH in the setting of PBC. Patients having liver involvement in other autoimmune disorders were included in the study. Results The total number of patients was 124; 83 (67%) were females; mean age ± standard error of mean (SEM) was 44.97 ± 1.47 years with a range of 09-84 years. Type-1 AIH was seen in 68 (54.8%) patients, type-2 AIH in 10 (8.1%) patients, PBC in 22 (17.7%) patients, overlap of PBC with AIH in 10 (8.1%) patients, IgG4 disease in four (3.2%) patients, psoriasis-specific immune hepatitis in four (3.2%) patients, celiac disease-related hepatitis in three (2.4%) patients, sarcoidosis in two (1.6%) patients, and ichthyosis-associated hepatitis in one (0.8%) patient. There was a high prevalence of cirrhosis (50%) at the time of presentation; 19% of patients had decompensated liver disease. ANA was positive in 52/68 cases of AIH type-1, but anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASMA) was reactive only in nine cases and anti-soluble liver antigen (SLA) in five cases. There was no female preponderance in type-2 AIH (M:F = 6:4). AMA was reactive in 25 (78%) cases of PBC and overlap syndrome. Antibodies prevalent in PBC (AMA-M2, AMA-M2-3E, sp-100, gp-210, anti-Ro52) were also seen in some cases of AIH, though they did not fulfill the criteria of the overlap syndrome. Conclusion There is an unmet need for the early diagnosis of autoimmune liver diseases and the initiation of appropriate management to prevent complications.

We Are Not Immune: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Autoimmune Liver Diseases

Autoimmune liver diseases are attributed to a complex interplay of biologic, acquired, and environmental factors. Increased prevalence, later stage at presentation, worse response to standard therapy, and transplant-related disparities have all been reported in racial and ethnic minorities such as Black and Latinx patients with autoimmune liver diseases. While biology and inherited genetic predispositions may partly explain these disparities, definitive and universal genetic variations underlying these differences in outcomes have not been defined. Nonetheless, socioeconomic status, access to health care, environmental and societal factors, and implicit provider bias can all contribute to poor patient outcomes. There remains an unmet need to understand and mitigate the factors contributing to health inequity in autoimmune liver diseases. In this review, we summarize the data on racial and ethnic disparities in presentation, treatment response, and outcomes pertaining to autoimmune liver diseases in minority populations, on the premise that understanding disparities is the first step toward reaching health equity.

Shear wave-based sound touch elastography in liver fibrosis assessment for patients with autoimmune liver diseases

Background

Shear wave-based ultrasonic elastography (USE) has been widely used for the assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD). However, diagnostic criteria and accuracy vary between different etiologies and specific elastography techniques. We aimed to evaluate the tissue stiffness measured by shear wave-based sound touch elastography (STE) in staging liver fibrosis in patients with autoimmune liver diseases (AILD).

Methods

One hundred and two AILD patients who had undergone STE liver stiffness measurements (LSMs) by using a Resona 7 ultrasound system were retrospectively studied. With the Scheuer liver fibrosis staging system as the reference, we investigated the diagnostic performance and cutoff values of STE measured liver stiffness in staging liver fibrosis through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Moreover, comparisons of areas under the curve (AUCs) were made between LSMs and calculated biomarker scores, including the aspartate aminotransferase (AST)-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index.

Results

Median LSMs increased with the advancing fibrosis stages with values of 6.89 kPa (1.51 m/s), 8.00 kPa (1.63 m/s), 9.60 kPa (1.79 m/s), 11.37 kPa (1.95 m/s) and 14.50 kPa (2.20 m/s), from stage 0 to stage 4 respectively. The cutoff values of STE for identifying significant fibrosis (≥ stage 2), severe fibrosis (≥ stage 3) and cirrhosis (stage 4) were 9.07 kPa (1.74 m/s), 9.97 kPa (1.82 m/s) and 10.48 kPa (1.87 m/s), respectively, with corresponding sensitivity of 79.1%, 93.3%, and 100%; specificity of 80.0%, 70.8% and 71.8%. The AUCs of LSMs in identifying fibrosis ≥ stage 2, ≥ stage 3 and stage 4 (0.82, 0.87, and 0.91, respectively) were significantly higher than that of APRI (0.67, 0.64, and 0.72, respectively) and FIB-4 (0.70, 0.68, and 0.75, respectively) (all P<0.05).

Conclusions

LSM obtained by STE exhibited its good capability to evaluate liver fibrosis stages in patients with AILD. As a noninvasive modality for liver fibrosis staging, STE is superior to APRI and FIB-4 biomarker scores.

Extrahepatic autoimmune diseases in primary biliary cholangitis: Prevalence and significance for clinical presentation and disease outcome

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The prevalence and clinical significance of extrahepatic autoimmune diseases (EHAIDs) have not been evaluated in a large cohort of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).

METHODS

The medical records of 1554 patients with PBC from 20 international centers were retrospectively reviewed. Development of decompensated cirrhosis (ascites, variceal bleeding, and/or hepatic encephalopathy) and hepatocellular carcinoma were considered clinical endpoints.

RESULTS

A total of 35 different EHAIDs were diagnosed in 440 (28.3%) patients with PBC. Patients with EHAIDs were more often female (92.5% vs 86.1%, P < 0.001) and seropositive for anti-mitochondrial antibodies (88% vs 84%, P = 0.05) and antinuclear antibodies and/or smooth muscle antibodies (53.8% vs 43.6%, P = 0.005). At presentation, patients with EHAIDs had significantly lower levels of alkaline phosphatase (1.76 vs 1.98 × upper limit of normal [ULN], P = 0.006), aspartate aminotransferase (1.29 vs 1.50 × ULN, P < 0.001), and total bilirubin (0.53 vs 0.58 × ULN, P = 0.002). Patients with EHAIDs and without EHAIDs had similar rates of GLOBE high-risk status (12.3% vs 16.1%, P = 0.07) and Paris II response (71.4% vs 69.4%, P = 0.59). Overall, event-free survival was not different in patients with and without EHAIDs (90.8% vs 90.7%, P = 0.53, log rank). Coexistence of each autoimmune thyroid diseases (10.6%), Sjögren disease (8.3%), systemic sclerosis (2.9%), rheumatoid arthritis (2.7%), systemic lupus erythematosus (1.7%), celiac disease (1.7%), psoriasis (1.5%), and inflammatory bowel diseases (1.3%) did not influence the outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms that EHAIDs are frequently diagnosed in patients with PBC. The presence of EHAIDs may influence the clinical phenotype of PBC at presentation but has no impact on PBC outcome.

Tim-3 suppresses autoimmune hepatitis via the p38/MKP-1 pathway in Th17 cells

T‐cell immunoglobulin‐ and mucin‐domain‐containing molecule‐3 (Tim‐3) mediates T‐cell suppression in various autoimmune diseases, such as chronic inflammatory liver disease. However, the regulatory effect of Tim‐3 on Th17 cells in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is incompletely understood. Here, we studied the expression and function of Tim‐3 in T cells in AIH patients and in a Con A (concanavalin A)‐induced mouse AIH model. We report that the frequency of CD4⁺Tim‐3⁺ T cells in peripheral blood samples of AIH patients was lower than that in the control group. The p38/MKP‐1 and p‐JNK pathways were activated, and the expression of interleukin‐17A protein was elevated in patients with AIH. Furthermore, the extent of pathological damage in the livers of mice with a blocked Tim‐3 signaling pathway (anti‐Tim‐3 group) was markedly increased and correlated with elevated alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels. In addition, the frequency of CD4⁺ IL‐17⁺ T (Th17) cells in the anti‐Tim‐3 group was increased, while that in mice with blocked p38 activity was decreased. Finally, the expression of MKP‐1 (p‐p38) gradually increased in the control, Con A, and anti‐Tim‐3 groups, but the levels of interleukin‐17A were decreased in the p38‐blocked group. In summary, our results suggest that Tim‐3 suppresses AIH by regulating Th17 cells through the p38/MKP‐1 pathway.

Recent updates on the management of autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an immunoinflammatory chronic liver disease with dynamic and rather heterogeneous disease manifestations. A trend of increasing prevalence of AIH has been observed worldwide, along with a relative increase in the percentage of male patients. AIH is characterized and diagnosed based on serum biochemistry and liver histology: elevated aminotransferases and serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), the presence of serum anti-nuclear antibody or anti-smooth muscle antibody, and interface lympho-plasmacytic hepatitis. Clinical manifestations differ among disease subtypes with distinct time-frames, i.e., AIH with a chronic insidious onset, and acute-onset AIH (the diagnosis of which is often challenging due to the lack of typical serum findings). The absence of disease-specific biomarkers or histological findings may expand the disease phenotype into drug-induced AIH-like liver injury. Corticosteroids and azathioprine are recommended first-line treatments for AIH. The complete normalization of aminotransferases and serum IgG is an essential treatment response to ensure long-term overall survival. An incomplete response or intolerance to these drugs is considered an indication for second-line treatment, especially with mycophenolate mofetil. Life-long maintenance treatment is required for the majority of patients, but the few who achieve prolonged and stringent biochemical remission with lower alanine aminotransferase and IgG within the normal range may be able to discontinue the medications. In the future, the quality of life of AIH patients should be managed by personalized medicine, including the appropriate selection and dosing of first-line therapy and perhaps alternating with potential therapeutics, and the prediction of the success of treatment withdrawal.

Current understanding of primary biliary cholangitis

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) causes chronic and persistent cholestasis in the liver, eventually resulting in cirrhosis and hepatic failure without appropriate treatment. PBC mainly develops in middle-aged women, but it is also common in young women and men. PBC is considered a model of autoimmune disease because of the presence of disease-specific autoantibodies, that is, antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs), intense infiltration of mononuclear cells into the bile ducts, and a high prevalence of autoimmune diseases such as comorbidities. Histologically, PBC is characterized by degeneration and necrosis of intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells surrounded by a dense infiltration of mononuclear cells, coined as chronic non-suppurative destructive cholangitis, which leads to destructive changes and the disappearance of small- or medium-sized bile ducts. Since 1990, early diagnosis with the detection of AMAs and introduction of ursodeoxycholic acid as first-line treatment has greatly altered the clinical course of PBC, and liver transplantation-free survival of patients with PBC is now comparable to that of the general population.

Autoimmune Hepatitis: 2019 Update

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory liver disease, characterized by the elevation of aminotransferases, presence of anti-nuclear antibody or anti-smooth muscle antibody, elevated immunoglobulin G (IgG), and interface hepatitis/plasma-lymphocytic inflammation based on histology. Recent epidemiological studies have indicated an increasing trend in the prevalence of AIH worldwide, especially in male patients; this trend may suggest the alteration of environmental triggers of disease onset over time. As no disease-specific biomarker or histological finding is currently available, AIH requires a clinical diagnosis, and a validated diagnostic scoring system with acceptable specificity and sensitivity has been proposed. Regarding treatment, corticosteroids and azathioprine are recommended, and in those who exhibit an incomplete response or those who are intolerant to these drugs, second-line therapy, such as mycophenolate mofetil, is considered. Overall, the long-term outcome is excellent in patients with complete biochemical responses, while life-long maintenance treatment may be required since the cessation of immunosuppressive agents frequently leads to the relapse of the disease. Acute-onset AIH does occur, and the diagnosis is very challenging due to the lack of serum autoantibodies or elevated IgG. The unmet needs include earlier diagnosis, intervention with disseminated clinical practice guidelines, and recognition and improvement of patients’ health-related quality of life with the development of novel corticosteroid-free treatment regimens.

Epidemiology and clinical course of primary biliary cholangitis in Eastern Slovakia

OBJECTIVE

To determine both the incidence and the prevalence of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in Eastern Slovakia and to describe its clinical course and the response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).

METHODS

We recorded data of patients with PBC, who were followed up in gastroenterology and hepatology centers in Eastern Slovakia during the period from June 30, 1999, through June 30, 2019.

RESULTS

The annual incidence of PBC varied from 0.7 to 1.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants between 2014 and 2018. PBC prevalence steadily increased from initial 10.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2014 to 14.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in June 2019. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 56.3 ± 10.9 years. 95.7% of patients were females, and female/male gender ratio was 22.3:1. In June 2019, prevalence in the female population was 28 cases per 100,000 women. At the time of diagnosis, three-quarters of patients were symptomatic and 10% of patients had liver cirrhosis. The mean follow-up was 7.3 ± 5.2 years. Response to UDCA was observed in 72.1% of patients. Patients with higher baseline alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, liver cirrhosis at entry or at the end of follow-up and women younger than 45 years responded worse to UDCA. One-quarter of patients had liver cirrhosis at the end of follow-up. During follow-up, 1.6% of patients underwent liver transplantation and 5.5% of patients died. Five-year and 10-year liver-related mortalities were 2.7% and 4.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

PBC prevalence in Eastern Slovakia is increasing, and most of the patients respond to therapy with UDCA.

Flare of Autoimmune Hepatitis Causing Acute on Chronic Liver Failure: Diagnosis and Response to Corticosteroid Therapy

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is considered less common in the Asia Pacific region. Due to this, AIH flare as a cause of acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) is often overlooked and treatment delayed. We aimed at the defining clinical and histopathological spectrum and role of steroid therapy in AIH-ACLF. Patients with AIH-ACLF, prospectively recruited and followed between 2012 and 2017, were analyzed from the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver ACLF Research Consortium (AARC) data base. Diagnosis of AIH was confirmed using International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group score or simplified AIH score with histopathological evidence. Of 2,825 ACLF patients, 82 (2.9%) fulfilled criteria of AIH (age 42.1 ± 18.1 years, 70% female). At baseline, mean bilirubin was 18.6 ± 8.2 mg/dL, Child-Turcotte-Pugh score was 11.7 ± 1.4, and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was 27.6 ± 6.5. Mean immunoglobulin G was 21.61 ± 7.32 g/dL, and this was elevated ≥1.1 times in 97% of cases; 49% were seronegative. Liver histology was available in 90%, with median histological activity index of 10 (interquartile range, 7-12); 90% with moderate to severe interface activity; 56% showing significant parenchymal necrosis (bridging and confluent necrosis); and cirrhosis in 42%. Twenty-eight (34%) patients received steroid therapy and showed shorter intensive care unit (ICU) stay (median 1.5 versus 4 days, P < 0.001) and improved 90-day survival (75% versus 48.1%, P = 0.02) with comparable incidence of sepsis (P = 0.32) compared to those who did not. Patients of advanced age, more severe liver disease (MELD >27; 83.3% sensitivity, 78.9% specificity, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.86), presence of hepatic encephalopathy, and fibrosis grade ≥F3 had an unfavorable response to corticosteroid therapy. Conclusion: AIH presenting as ACLF is not uncommon in Asian patients; a low threshold for liver biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis as nearly half the patients are seronegative; early stratification to steroid therapy or liver transplantation (MELD >27, hepatic encephalopathy in ≥F3) would reduce ICU stay and improve outcomes.

Meta-Analysis of Antinuclear Antibodies in the Diagnosis of Antimitochondrial Antibody-Negative Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Objective

The diagnostic value of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) including anti-gp210 and anti-sp100 for primary biliary cholangitis/cirrhosis (PBC) has been widely reported. However, their diagnostic performances for antimitochondrial antibody- (AMA-) negative PBC were less well elucidated. Therefore, the aim of the current meta-analysis was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ANAs in patients with AMA-negative PBC.

Materials and Methods

Literature on the diagnostic value of biomarkers for AMA-negative PBC was systematically searched in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. The qualities of the retrieved studies were assessed by the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-version 2 (QUADAS-2) scale. Pooled sensitivity and specificity of the biomarkers were calculated with random-effects models. The areas under the summary receiver operating characteristic (AUSROC) curves were used to evaluate the overall diagnostic performance of ANAs.

Results

A total of 11 studies (400 AMA-negative PBC patients and 6217 controls) were finally included in the meta-analysis. ANAs had an overall sensitivity of 27% (95% CI: 20%, 35%) and specificity of 98% (95% CI: 97%, 99%). The pooled sensitivities for anti-gp210 and anti-sp100 were 23% (95% CI: 13%, 37%) and 25% (95% CI: 13%, 43%), respectively, and their specificities were 99% (95% CI: 97%, 100%) and 97% (95% CI: 93%, 98%), respectively.

Conclusions

ANAs exhibited high specificity but low sensitivity and therefore could be used as reliable biomarkers to reduce the necessity of liver histology.

The extrahepatic events of Asian patients with primary biliary cholangitis: A 30-year cohort study

The extrahepatic complications of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in Asian patients remain elusive. A 30-year cohort study of 150 Taiwanese PBC patients treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was conducted. Patients with alkaline phosphatase levels >1.67 × ULN after 1-year treatment were considered suboptimal responders. At baseline, of 150 patients (mean age: 53.75 years), 128 (85.3%) were females, and 34 (22.8%) had cirrhosis. The cumulative incidences of various incident events were all-cause mortality or liver transplantation: 46.7%; extrahepatic mortality: 24.5%; extrahepatic malignancies: 8.1%; hypertension: 46.2%; dyslipidemia: 44.1%; diabetes: 30.6%; hyperuricemia: 11.2%; acute coronary syndrome: 3.1%; cerebral vascular accident (CVA): 8.9%; autoimmune diseases: 16%; and osteoporosis: 20.9%. The 5- to 20-year cumulative incidences for all-cause mortality or liver transplantation and extrahepatic mortality were 16.2–41.3% and 3.1–11.9%, respectively. Baseline associations were age and alpha-fetoprotein levels with extrahepatic mortality, 80% due to sepsis; age with extrahepatic malignancies and hypertension; gender and hyperuricemia with CVA; and UDCA response with autoimmune disease. Conclusions: Sepsis accounted for most extrahepatic mortality in PBC patients, and the longer the follow-up was, the higher the extrahepatic/all-cause mortality ratio. Baseline age is crucial for incident extrahepatic events and only CVA shows gender-dimorphism; the association between UDCA response and autoimmune disease requires further investigation.

Burden of liver diseases in the world

Liver disease accounts for approximately 2 million deaths per year worldwide, 1 million due to complications of cirrhosis and 1million due to viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Cirrhosis is currently the 11th most common cause of death globally and liver cancer is the 16th leading cause of death; combined, they account for 3.5% of all deaths worldwide. Cirrhosis is within the top 20 causes of disability-adjusted life years and years of life lost, accounting for 1.6% and 2.1% of the worldwide burden. About 2 billion people consume alcohol worldwide and upwards of 75 million are diagnosed with alcohol-use disorders and are at risk of alcohol-associated liver disease. Approximately 2 billion adults are obese or overweight and over 400 million have diabetes; both of which are risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. The global prevalence of viral hepatitis remains high, while drug-induced liver injury continues to increase as a major cause of acute hepatitis. Liver transplantation is the second most common solid organ transplantation, yet less than 10% of global transplantation needs are met at current rates. Though these numbers are sobering, they highlight an important opportunity to improve public health given that most causes of liver diseases are preventable.

Increased red cell width distribution to lymphocyte ratio is a predictor of histologic severity in primary biliary cholangitis

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic disease that is increasingly being recognized in recent years. In this study, we sought to identify noninvasive markers of the severity of cirrhosis in patients with PBC based on routinely investigated laboratory parameters.Ninety-four patients with histologically-confirmed PBC based on liver biopsy performed between January 2013 and December 2017 at the First Hospital of Jilin University were divided into 2 groups: early-stage cirrhosis (fibrosis stage F1 and F2; n = 74) and advanced-stage cirrhosis (fibrosis stage F3 and F4; n = 20).Patients with advanced-stage had significantly higher red blood cell distribution width (RDW) (15.2 vs 13.7; P = .003) and significantly lower platelet (163.35 vs 202.73; P = .032) and lymphocyte counts (1.47 vs 1.79; P = .018) as compared with patients with early-stage cirrhosis. Advanced-stage cirrhosis was associated with significantly higher RDW to platelet ratio (RPR), RDW to lymphocyte ratio (RLR), aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), and fibrosis index based on the 4 factors (FIB-4) as compared with early-stage cirrhosis. RLR showed the highest area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) (0.744). The sensitivity and specificity of RLR were 65% and 78.3%, respectively. RLR had higher AUROC than the other 3 noninvasive markers.The noninvasive markers RPR, RLR, APRI, and FIB-4 showed good diagnostic accuracy for advanced-stage cirrhosis. These markers are easily acquired by routine laboratory tests and are reproducible predictors of the severity of PBC. RLR is a novel marker that may serve as a valuable supplement to APRI and FIB-4 for predicting the severity of cirrhosis.

Geoepidemiology of Primary Biliary Cholangitis: Lessons from Switzerland

No data on primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are available in Switzerland. We established a national patient cohort to obtain information on PBC phenotypes and disease course in Switzerland. Local databases in all university hospitals and in two large secondary centers were searched for case finding. In addition, all primary care physicians, gastroenterologists, rheumatologists, and dermatologists were invited to contribute patients from their own medical records. PBC diagnosis was centrally reviewed. Five hundred one PBC patients were identified, 474 were included in data analysis, and 449 of them were enrolled by tertiary centers. The catchment area accounts for approximately one third of the Swiss population or approximately 2.8 million inhabitants. The median age at diagnosis was 53 years, 84% were women, and 86% were anti-mitochondrial antibody positive. The median follow-up was 5.4 years, 12.6% experienced a liver-related endpoint. Splenomegaly was present at diagnosis in one quarter of patients and in half of male patients. Approximately one third were non-responders to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). The median transplant-free survival at 10 years was 85%. The following variables were independently associated with poor outcome: low platelet count at baseline (HR = 0.99, p < 0.0001), elevated alkaline phosphatase at baseline (HR = 1.36, p < 0.0001), elevated bilirubin at baseline (HR = 1.11, p = 0.001), and elevated alanine aminotransaminase (HR = 1.35, p = 0.04) after 12 months of UDCA therapy. The AUROC for the UK-PBC risk score at 5, 10, and 15 years was 0.82. The AUROC for the Globe score at 5, 10, and 15 years was 0.77. Patients included in this study are currently being enrolled in a prospective nationwide registry with biobank, taking advantage of the collaboration network generated by this study. Our study provides the first snapshot of PBC in Switzerland, describing a diagnostic delay with one quarter of patients diagnosed when already in the cirrhotic stage. We were also able to externally validate the UK-PBC risk score and the Globe score. The ongoing nationwide prospective registry will be fundamental to improve disease awareness and interdisciplinary collaborations and will serve as a platform for clinical and translational research.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

clinicaltrials.gov : NCT02846896; SNCTP000001870.

Tacrolimus and Mycophenolate Mofetil as Second-Line Therapies for Pediatric Patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis

BACKGROUND

We studied the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and tacrolimus as second-line therapy in pediatric patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) who were intolerant or non-responders to standard therapy (corticosteroid and azathioprine).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of data from 13 centers in Europe, USA, and Canada. Thirty-eight patients (< 18 years old) who received second-line therapy (18 MMF and 20 tacrolimus), for a median of 72 months (range 8-182) were evaluated. Patients were categorized into two groups: Group 1 (n = 17) were intolerant to corticosteroid or azathioprine, and group 2 (n = 21) were non-responders to standard therapy.

RESULTS

Overall complete response rates were similar in patients treated with MMF and tacrolimus (55.6 vs. 65%, p = 0.552). In group 1, MMF and tacrolimus maintained a biochemical remission in 88.9 and 87.5% of patients, respectively (p = 0.929). More patients in group 2 given tacrolimus compared to MMF had a complete response, but the difference was not statistically significant (50.0 vs. 22.2%, p = 0.195). Biochemical remission was achieved in 71.1% (27/38) of patients by tacrolimus and/or MMF. Decompensated cirrhosis was more commonly seen in MMF and/or tacrolimus non-responders than in responders (45.5 vs. 7.4%, p = 0.006). Five patients who received second-line therapy (2 MMF and 3 tacrolimus) developed side effects that led to therapy withdrawal.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term therapy with MMF or tacrolimus was generally well tolerated by pediatric patients with AIH. Both MMF and tacrolimus had excellent efficacy in patients intolerant to corticosteroid or azathioprine. Tacrolimus might be more effective than MMF in patients failing previous therapy.

Autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a severe liver disease that affects children and adults worldwide. The diagnosis of AIH relies on increased serum transaminase and immunoglobulin G levels, presence of autoantibodies and interface hepatitis on liver histology. AIH arises in genetically predisposed individuals when a trigger, such as exposure to a virus, leads to a T cell-mediated autoimmune response directed against liver autoantigens; this immune response is permitted by inadequate regulatory immune control leading to a loss of tolerance. AIH responds favourably to immunosuppressive treatment, which should be started as soon as the diagnosis is made. Standard regimens include fairly high initial doses of corticosteroids (prednisone or prednisolone), which are tapered gradually as azathioprine is introduced. For those patients who do not respond to standard treatment, second-line drugs should be considered, including mycophenolate mofetil, calcineurin inhibitors, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors and biologic agents, which should be administered only in specialized hepatology centres. Liver transplantation is a life-saving option for those who progress to end-stage liver disease, although AIH can recur or develop de novo after transplantation. In-depth investigation of immune pathways and analysis of changes to the intestinal microbiota should advance our knowledge of the pathogenesis of AIH and lead to novel, tailored and better tolerated therapies.

Autoimmune Hepatitis in the Asia-Pacific Area

Autoimmune hepatitis has been considered as a relatively rare immunological liver disease, especially in the Asia-Pacific area. Although the diagnosis criteria and immunosuppressive treatment regimens have been established, there are still some challenges. According to the different presentations, the personalized management of patients who suffer from this disease, including those with chronic or acute severe onset, the autoantibody-negative phenotype and cirrhosis are necessarily descriptive. Each subgroup of patients should receive an individualized therapy. Here, we review the recent studies of autoimmune hepatitis, mainly focusing on the epidemiology and genetics, personalized diagnostics, individualized treatment strategies, special subgroups and outcomes. Most of the research in the literature is based on Japanese and Chinese populations.

Non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis using two-dimensional shear wave elastography in patients with autoimmune liver diseases

AIM

To determine the diagnostic accuracy of two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) for the non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with autoimmune liver diseases (AILD) using liver biopsy as the reference standard.

METHODS

Patients with AILD who underwent liver biopsy and 2D-SWE were consecutively enrolled. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to assess the overall accuracy and to identify optimal cut-off values.

RESULTS

The characteristics of the diagnostic performance were determined for 114 patients with AILD. The areas under the ROC curves for significant fibrosis, severe fibrosis, and cirrhosis were 0.85, 0.85, and 0.86, respectively, and the optimal cut-off values associated with significant fibrosis (≥ F2), severe fibrosis (≥ F3), and cirrhosis (F4) were 9.7 kPa, 13.2 kPa and 16.3 kPa, respectively. 2D-SWE showed sensitivity values of 81.7% for significant fibrosis, 83.0% for severe fibrosis, and 87.0% for cirrhosis, and the respective specificity values were 81.3%, 74.6%, and 80.2%. The overall concordance rate of the liver stiffness measurements obtained using 2D-SWE vs fibrosis stages was 53.5%.

CONCLUSION

2D-SWE showed promising diagnostic performance for assessing liver fibrosis stages and exhibited high cut-off values in patients with AILD. Low overall concordance rate was observed in the liver stiffness measurements obtained using 2D-SWE vs fibrosis stages.

Similarities and Differences in Autoimmune Hepatitis Epidemiology between East and West: Autoimmune Hepatitis in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia

Background

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a relatively rare disease that can develop regardless of age or ethnicity. However, its clinical features differ between eastern and western populations due to several heterogeneous genetic and environmental factors. We herein report the clinical characteristics of AIH patients in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia.

Summary and Key Messages

The prevalence of AIH in eastern countries is considered to be lower than in western countries. Although a few young patients with type 2 AIH have been observed in South Asia, most patients in Asia are middle-aged women with type 1 AIH who respond well to steroid-based immunosuppressive therapy. Human leukocyte antigen DR4 is suggested to be an influential factor in the genetic background of AIH patients in Asia, particularly in East Asia. Notably, AIH may be induced by some societal- or culture-associated medicines, including herbal medicines. The IAIHG (International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group) scoring systems are generally accepted as the standard diagnostic methods for AIH in Asian countries. The results of repeated nationwide surveys in Japan suggest that the clinical features of AIH patients in East Asia are changing, with IgG levels and rates of anti-nuclear antibody positivity decreasing.