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VIRAL HEPATITIS |
1 Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Gastroenterologia, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
2 Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Cardioangiologia ed Epatologia, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
3 Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Biotecnologia Applicata "D Campanacci", Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
4 Dipartimento di Patologia Clinica, Microbiologia, Virologia e Medicina Trasfusionale, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
5 Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche, Rianimatorie e dei Trapianti, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor P Andreone
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Cardioangiologia ed Epatologia, Policlinico Sant’Orsola-Malpighi, Via Massarenti, 9-40138 Bologna, Italy; pietro.andreone{at}unibo.it
ABSTRACT
Background: Interferon may trigger autoimmune disorders, including autoimmune hepatitis, in immunocompetent patients. To date, no such disorders have been described in liver transplanted patients.
Methods: 9 of 44 liver transplanted patients who had been receiving pegylated-interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin for at least 6 months for hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence, developed graft dysfunction despite on-treatment HCV-RNA clearance in all but one case. Laboratory, microbiological, imaging and histological evaluations were performed to identify the origin of graft dysfunction. The International Autoimmune Hepatitis scoring system was also applied.
Results: In all cases infections, anastomoses complications and rejection were excluded, whereas the autoimmune hepatitis score suggested a "probable autoimmune hepatitis" (score from 10 to 14). Three patients developed other definite autoimmune disorders (overlap anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA)-positive cholangitis, autoimmune thyroiditis and systemic lupus erythematosus, respectively). In all cases, pre-existing autoimmune hepatitis was excluded. Anti-lymphocyte antibodies in immunosuppressive induction treatment correlated with the development of the disorder, whereas the use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to treat interferon-induced neutropenia showed a protective role. Withdrawal of antiviral treatment and treatment with prednisone resulted in different outcomes (five remissions and four graft failures with two deaths).
Conclusions: De novo autoimmune hepatitis should be considered in differential diagnosis along with rejection in liver transplanted patients developing graft dysfunction while on treatment with interferon.
Abbreviations: AIH, autoimmune hepatitis; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AMA, anti-mitochondrial antibodies; ANA, antinuclear antibodies; ASMA, anti-smooth-muscle antibodies; EPO, erythropoietin; G-CSF, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; IFN, interferon; pANCA, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies; PEG-IFN, pegylated-interferon; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; SVR, sustained virological response
This article has been cited by other articles:
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  R. Coriat and P. Podevin Fulminant autoimmune hepatitis after successful interferon treatment in an HIV-HCV co-infected patient Int J STD AIDS, March 1, 2008; 19(3): 208 - 210. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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