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Clinical and histological features of autoantibody‐negative autoimmune hepatitis in C hinese patients: A single center experience
Author(s) -
Wang Qi Xia,
Jiang Wei Jun,
Miao Qi,
Xiao Xiao,
Zhang Hai Yan,
Huang Shan Shan,
Shen Lei,
Hua Jing,
Li Hai,
Li Shen,
Qiu De Kai,
Ma Xiong
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of digestive diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1751-2980
pISSN - 1751-2972
DOI - 10.1111/1751-2980.12022
Subject(s) - autoantibody , medicine , autoimmune hepatitis , anti nuclear antibody , gastroenterology , antibody , single center , immunology , hepatitis
Objective This study aimed to define the clinical features of C hinese patients with autoantibody‐negative autoimmune hepatitis ( AIH ) and to refine the diagnosis and management of these atypical patients in a single Chinese center. Methods A retrospective evaluation of 167 Chinese patients with AIH was performed. Patients meeting comprehensive criteria with the absence of antinuclear antibodies, smooth muscle antibodies, liver‐kidney microsomal‐1 antibodies and antimitochondrial antibodies were defined as autoantibody‐negative patients. Results In total, 17 (10.2%) of the 167 patients with AIH were autoantibody‐negative. The general status and biochemical tests between the classical and autoantibody‐negative patients were not significantly different ( P > 0.05). Serum immunoglobulin G levels of the autoantibody‐negative AIH patients were lower than those of the classical AIH ones ( P = 0.004). There was no significant difference in the histological inflammatory grades between the two groups; however, advanced histological stages were more common in the autoantibody‐negative AIH group ( P < 0.001). In the autoantibody‐negative AIH patients, 11 (64.7%) had a possible diagnosis and 6 (35.3%) had a definite diagnosis according to the comprehensive criteria. While with the simplified criteria only 3 patients (17.6%) had a possible diagnosis, and none had a definite diagnosis of AIH . The complete biochemical remission rate was 86% within 24 months of immunosuppressive therapy, which was comparable to classical AIH ( P = 0.658). Conclusion Autoantibody‐negative AIH is not uncommon in C hinese AIH patients, and has a good response to immunosuppressive treatment comparable to classical patients.