Overlap syndromes among autoimmune liver diseases

The three major immune disorders of the liver are autoimmune hepatitis（AIH）,primary biliary cirrhosis（PBC） and primary sclerosing cholangitis（PSC）.Variant forms of these diseases are generally called overlap syndromes,although there has been no standardised definition.Patients with overlap syndromes present with both hepatitic and cholestatic serum liver tests and have histological features of AIH and PBC or PSC.The AIH-PBC overlap syndrome is the most common form,affecting almost 10% of adults with AIH or PBC.Single cases of AIH and autoimmune cholangitis（AMA-negative PBC） overlap syndrome have also been reported.The AIH-PSC overlap syndrome is predominantly found in children,adolescents and young adults with AIH or PSC.Interestingly,transitions from one autoimmune to another have also been reported in a minority of patients,especially transitions from PBC to AIH-PBC overlap syndrome.Overlap syndromes show a progressive course towards liver cirrhosis and liver failure without treatment.Therapy for overlap syndromes is empiric,since controlled trials are not available in these rare disorders.Anticholestatic therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid is usually combined with immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids and/or azathioprine in both AIH-PBC and AIH-PSC overlap syndromes.In end-stage disease,liver transplantation is the treatment of choice.     

自身免疫性肝病活检组织病理学特征分析109例

目的:分析比较自身免疫性肝炎(AIH)、原发性胆汁性肝硬化(PBC)、原发性硬化性胆管炎(PSC)及其重叠综合征的组织病理学变化,提高对自身免疫性肝病(AILD)的认识.方法:对27例AIH、67例PBC、4例PSC、1例AIH-PSC重叠综合征和10例AIH-PBC重叠综合征患者的肝穿组织病理资料进行回顾性分析.结果:AILD患者多发于中年女性(73.3%),肝组织病理变化以界面性肝炎为主(77.7%),在重度患者则出现重度界面性肝炎、桥样坏死等.PBC患者早期(Ⅰ、Ⅱ)占28.3%,而晚期(Ⅲ、Ⅳ)占71.7%,肝组织病理变化以小胆管减少甚至消失为主(62.6%).AIH-PBC重叠综合征患者并非罕见,他的肝组织病理学具有AIH和PBC的双重特征.结论:AILD是非病毒性肝病的重要组成部分,其诊断需综合临床表现、生化、免疫指标和组织学变化.     

自身免疫性肝病重叠综合征的诊断和治疗

自身免疫性肝病（AILD）是一组以肝脏病理损害和肝功能异常为主要表现的自身免疫性疾病,可分为自身免疫性肝炎（AIH）、原发性胆汁性肝硬化（PBC）和原发性硬化性胆管炎（PSC）,重叠综合征指同时具有其中两种疾病的临床和病理表现。重叠综合征相对少见,主要包括AIH—PBC和AIH—PSC。由于重叠综合征在临床表现、血清学和组织学方面综合了两种AILD的特点,其诊断和治疗有一定难度并存在争议。对其临床表现以及诊断和治疗方案进行深入研究有助于对该病的认识和防治。     

自身免疫性肝病109例的临床与病理特征分析

目的 分析比较自身免疫性肝炎(AIH)、原发性胆汁性肝硬化(PBC)、原发性硬化性胆管炎(PSC)及AIH重叠综合征的临床特点、生化特征和组织学变化,以提高对自身免疫性肝病(AILD)的认识.方法 收集2004年1月-2008年6月肝穿刺病理学检查确诊的AILD患者共109例,其中AIH 27例、PBC 67例、PSC 4例、AIH-PSC重叠综合征1例和AIH-PBC重叠综合征10例,对患者的临床及实验室检查资料进行回顾性分析.结果 AILD患者多发于中年女性(73.3%,80/109),常见症状为黄疸、乏力、纳差和皮肤瘙痒.AIH患者的发病年龄高峰在50岁左右,肝功能检查结果显示为肝炎样异常,丙种球蛋白和免疫球蛋白G均明显高于正常值,62.9%的患者(17/27)抗核抗体(ANA)阳性.肝组织病理变化以界面性肝炎为主(77.7%),在重度患者则出现重度界面件肝炎、桥样坏死等.PBC患者主要表现为碱性磷酸酶、γ-谷氨酰转肽酶和胆红素明显升高,伴免疫球蛋白M升高,74.6%的患者(50/67)线粒体抗体(AMA)和(或)AMA-M2亚型阳性.所有PBC患者行肝脏病理学检查,早期(Ⅰ、Ⅱ)占28.3%,晚期(Ⅲ、Ⅳ)占71.7%,肝组织病理变化以小胆管减少甚至消失为主(62.6 0A).AIH-PBC重叠综合征患者的临床表现和肝组织病理学具有AlH和PBC的双重特征,其中有3例患者同时检测到ANA和AMA/AMA-M2阳性.结论 AILD在中国人中并非少见,其诊断需综合临床表现、生化、免疫指标和组织学变化.     

Overlap syndromes with autoimmune hepatitis in chronic cholestatic liver diseases

Conditions exhibiting features of two different autoimmune liver diseases are commonly designated overlap syndromes, although there is no current agreement on what constitutes an overlap syndrome or specific diagnostic criteria. As in the classic autoimmune liver diseases, such as autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), the etiology is unknown but presumed to be related to alterations of immune regulation. Distinction of these clinical entities is important for management as outcomes may differ from outcomes of patients with diagnosis of classic autoimmune liver diseases. Due to their presumed rarity, no large therapeutic trials are available and treatment of overlap conditions is empirical and based upon extrapolation of data from the primary autoimmune liver diseases. PBC–AIH overlap is the most frequently described overlap syndrome and may be associated with a poor prognosis. This may represent an important and unrecognized cause of resistance to ursodeoxycholic acid in patients with PBC. PSC–AIH overlap is less commonly reported. Prognosis may be better than in patients with PSC alone; however, worse than in patients with AIH alone. Further studies are needed for determining diagnosis, natural history and optimal therapeutic strategies of overlap syndromes of autoimmune liver disease.     

Rapid progression of autoimmune hepatitis in the background of primary sclerosing cholangitis

"Overlap syndromes" have been reported among various autoimmune liver diseases, particularly between primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in adults and between AIH and autoimmune cholangitis in children. The overlap syndrome of AIH and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), however, has been scarcely reported. Furthermore, in most of the reported cases of AIH/PSC overlap syndrome, PSC and AIH were believed to occur simultaneously. We report a case of a 34-year-old woman who has ulcerative colitis and PSC (diagnosed by colonoscopy, histology, and cholangiogram) and 7 years later develops rapidly progressive liver failure and hemolytic anemia from AIH. Liver biopsy showed dense portal lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate with interface hepatitis and acidophil bodies confirming AIH. She responded well to immunosuppressive therapy with steroids, both with respect to her liver disease and her autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Additionally, her clinical symptoms of fatigue, jaundice, and pruritus improved markedly and quickly. Overlap or "crossover" syndrome should be considered in all patients with PSC when they present with sudden deterioration of the liver function and changes in liver enzymes. By making the diagnosis of AIH in a patient with well-established PSC, appropriate treatment can be initiated, resulting in the patient's prompt recovery.     

Autoimmune liver disease - are there spectra that we do not know?

Autoimmune liver diseases (AILDs) are common leading causes for liver cirrhosis and terminal stage of liver disease. They have variable prevalence among patients with liver disease and have two major clinical and biochemical presentations. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is the typical example of hepatocellular AILD, but it can also be presented under a cholestatic pattern. AIH has a scoring diagnostic system and respond in most cases to the treatment with prednisolone and azathioprine. Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is the second most common AILD, with a cholestatic presentation and characterized by positive antimitochondrial antibody (AMA). It has an excellent response and long term outcome with the administration of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Another AILD that is thought to be a variant of PBC is the autoimmune cholangitis, being a disease that has biochemical and histological features similar to PBC; but the AMA is negative. Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare entity of AILD that has a cholestatic presentation and respond poorly to the treatment, with the ultimate progression to advance liver cirrhosis in most patients. Other forms of AILD include the overlap syndromes (OS), which are diseases with mixed immunological and histological patterns of two AILD; the most commonly recognized one is AIH-PBC overlap (AIH-PSC overlap is less common). The treatment of OS involves the trial of UDCA and different immunosuppressants. Here we present three case reports of unusual forms of chronic liver diseases that most likely represent AILD. The first two patients had a cholestatic picture, whereas the third one had a hepatocellular picture at presentation. We discussed their biochemical, immunological and histological features as well as their response to treatment and their outcomes. Then, we compared them with other forms of AILD.     

Diagnostic and therapeutic questions in overlap syndromes of autoimmune hepatitis

The term 'overlap syndromes of liver diseases' includes coexistence of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Due to their unknown etiology, as well as their variable presentation with mixed clinical and biochemical features, these overlap syndromes are often a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for hepatologists. The most frequent association reported occurs between AIH and PBC. More rare is the overlap between AIH and PSC, typical in young age and often concomitant with an inflammatory bowel disease as ulcerative colitis. The treatment of choice is based on ursodeoxycholic acid and immunosoppressive drugs, used at the same time or consecutively, according to the course of disease. Histological examination seems an important tool, but often does not help for a correct diagnosis due to lack of specificity. Two particular forms of variant syndrome are the so called outlier syndromes, without clear characteristics of overlap: the autoimmune cholangitis, probably a form of PBC anti-mitochondrial antibodies negative, and the hepatitis C virus related with stigmata of autoimmunity, such as nonspecific autoantibodies at low titer. The diagnostic score system elaborated in 1999 by the International AIH Group can help for diagnosis, even if its definite validity is lacking.     

Autoimmune liver disease: diagnosis and therapy

Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and overlap syndromes of these three disease entities are regarded as autoimmune liver diseases. These conditions are important differential diagnoses of elevated liver function tests as about 10 % of liver transplantations in Europe and North America are for these indications. The diagnosis is often difficult but can be facilitated by sequential measurement of relevant autoantibodies, exclusion of other liver disease, ultrasound, ERCP and liver histology. In AIH immunosuppressive therapy has been shown to prevent or stop the development of cirrhosis and improve the prognosis of the patients decisively. In other autoimmune liver diseases this evidence is missing making individual therapeutic decisions necessary. Ursodesoxycholic acid (UDCA) seems to slow disease progression in particular in early stages of PBC.     

Overlap syndromes: the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAIHG) position statement on a controversial issue

Some patients present with overlapping features between disorders within the spectrum of autoimmune liver diseases (i.e. autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)) and are commonly classified as having an "overlap syndrome". Standardized definitions of "overlap syndromes" are lacking. The aim of this report by the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAIHG) is to evaluate if there are important reasons to classify conditions with overlapping features between autoimmune liver diseases as separate diagnostic entities. Definition of diagnostic criteria for overlap conditions can only be arbitrary. The IAIHG scoring system for diagnosis of AIH has been widely used to diagnose "overlap syndromes", but was not intended for such use and has not proven to be an efficient tool for this purpose. Some patients with overlapping features between a cholestatic and hepatitic disorder appear to benefit from treatment with a combination of ursodeoxycholic acid and immunosuppressants, but this strategy is not evidence-based, and it seems unjustified to define new diagnostic groups in this regard. The IAIHG suggests that patients with autoimmune liver disease should be categorized according to the predominating feature(s) as AIH, PBC, and PSC/small duct PSC, respectively, and that those with overlapping features are not considered as being distinct diagnostic entities. The IAIHG scoring system should not be used to establish subgroups of patients. Patients with PBC and PSC with features of AIH should be considered for immunosuppressive treatment. Due to the low prevalence of such "overlap syndromes", prospective interventional therapeutic trials cannot be expected in the foreseeable future.     

Autoimmune hepatitis and overlap syndromes

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an immune-mediated, autodestructive liver disease with hepatocytes as target cells, mostly affecting young women. Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is also regarded as an autoimmune liver disease with bile duct epithelia as the target cells, resulting in a continuous loss of bile ducts. Both diseases may occur simultaneously in their full manifestations in about 10% to 20% of cases, thus constituting an overlap syndrome with PBC directing the course of the disease. AIH may also occur simultaneously with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), with a frequency of between 2% and 8% of patients with PSC. In most cases, AIH precedes manifestation of PSC. In children, the overlap syndrome of AIH and PSC seems to make up an entity of its own: autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis.     

Autoimmune hepatitis/primary sclerosing cholangitis overlap syndrome in adults: report of three cases

Overlap syndromes are cases of liver diseases that share clinical, serological, histological and radiological criteria of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). No definitions have been fully established and therefore there is no solid evidence on the diagnosis and treatment. This article presents the cases of three adult patients with overlapping features of AIH and PSC. Orthotopic liver transplantation was considered the best therapeutic alternative due to advanced disease progression in one patient, while medical treatment was provided in the remaining two patients.     

Prevalence of autoimmune liver disease in Alaska Natives

OBJECTIVE: There is limited information on the prevalence of autoimmune liver disease in nonwhite populations. We conducted a population-based study on the prevalence of autoimmune liver diseases in Alaska natives. METHODS: Clinical records from 1984 to July, 2000 were reviewed to identify Alaska natives with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis, autoimmune cholangitis, and overlap syndromes of two of the above. AIH was defined as definite or probable, based on criteria established by the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group. The diagnosis of PBC was based on a positive antimitochondrial antibody of > or = 1: 40, biochemical evidence of cholestasis, and compatible liver biopsy. Autoimmune cholangitis was defined as PBC but without a positive antimitochondrial antibody. Primary sclerosing cholangitis was diagnosed on the basis of cholangiogram. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients with possible autoimmune liver disease were identified. Of these, 42 had definite and seven probable AIH. At presentation, 34.7% of patients with AIH presented with acute icteric hepatitis, and 65.3% were asymptomatic. Persons presenting with mild or no symptoms were more likely to have moderate to severe fibrosis on liver biopsy than those presenting with jaundice. Eighteen persons were diagnosed with PBC, five with autoimmune cholangitis, five with overlap syndrome, and none with primary sclerosing cholangitis. The combined point prevalence of AIH Alaska natives was 42.9/100,000 (95% CI = 31-57.7). The prevalence of PBC was 16/100,000 (95% CI = 12.9-25.4). CONCLUSIONS: This population-based study demonstrates that the prevalence rates of AIH and PBC in Alaska natives are comparable with reported rates in other populations.     

164例自身免疫性肝病临床分析

目的 分析比较自身免疫性肝炎（autoimmune hepatitis，AIH）、原发性胆汁性肝硬化（primary biliary cirrhosis，PBC）、原发性硬化性胆管炎（primary sclerosing cholangltis）及其重叠综合征的临床特点、生化特征和治疗反应，提高对自身免疫性肝病的认识。方法对77例AIH患者、46例PBC患者、11例PSC患者和30例PBC-AIH重叠综合征患者的临床及实验室检查资料进行回顾性分析。结果除PSC外，大多数自身免疫性肝病多发于中年女性，从出现症状到明确诊断平均需要2．5年。AIH、PBC-AIH重叠患者具有较高的转氨酶，PBC、PSC具有较明显的GGT、ALP升高。临床表现上AIH、PBC、PSC、AIH-PBC黄疸发生率分别为84％、78％、90％和67％，皮肤瘙痒的发生率分别为43％、56％、81％和60％。PSC和AIH-PBC具有较高的AIH评分，27％的PSC患者和33％AIH-PBC的评分达到可能的AIH。合理应用UDCA和免疫抑制剂可使90％的PBC和AIH患者症状在六个月内得到缓解、肝功能恢复明显改善。结论 AIH、PBC-AIH的肝功能异常以转氨酶升高为主，PBC、PSC以胆汁淤积为主。应用AIH评分系统诊断可能的AIH时应注意鉴别PSC及其它自身免疫性肝病。UDCA和免疫抑制剂可改善绝大多数患者的症状和肝功能异常。     

Liver transplantation and autoimmunity.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) represent good indications for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). While there is effective treatment for AIH (steroids with or without azathioprine) and PBC (ursodeoxycholic acid) no such treatment is currently established for PSC. The need of transplantation can be delayed for AIH and PBC with appropriate therapies, while treatment options for PSC are still controversially discussed. Although the time point for liver transplantation can be roughly estimated for AIH by failure of immunosuppressive therapy and for PBC by prognostic models, the prediction of survival in patients with PSC is more difficult, and further complicated by the risk of developing cholangiocellular carcinoma. Long term (5-year) outcome after liver transplantation approaches 80 to 90% for autoimmune liver diseases unless cholangiocellular carcinoma complicates PSC at the time of OLT. The risk of disease recurrence has been recognised for each of these entities although its clinical relevance is controversial and not exactly determined today. As survival after liver transplantation is steadily increasing, recurrent autoimmune liver disease may become a clinical problem in the future. Recently de novo autoimmune hepatitis after liver transplantation has been reported from several transplant centres, although its importance still needs to be established.     

中晚期自身免疫性肝炎-原发性胆汁性肝硬化重叠综合征的临床病理研究

目的探讨中晚期自身免疫性肝炎-原发性胆汁性肝硬化（AIH-PBC）重叠综合征的临床病理特征及治疗直答。方法对具有肝穿刺标本的11例PBC-AIH重叠综合征和13例PBC（Seheuer分期3、4期）患者进行比较，重点分析AIH-PBC重叠综合征的临床、病理特点及治疗应答。结果两组患者的性别、年龄、病程、症状无显著差异；AIH-PBC重叠综合征患者的丙氨酸氨基转移酶、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶、γ-球蛋白、免疫球蛋白IgG以及抗核抗体或抗平滑肌抗体阳性率明显高于PBC（P〈0．05）。肝组织学见汇管区与肝腺泡内以单个核细胞为主的较多炎细胞浸润，其中易见浆细胞的聚积性浸润。可见不同时期小胆管损伤或毛细胆管反应性增生并侵蚀肝界板；重叠综合征患者经熊去氧胆酸治疗可使肝功能改善，与PBC患者无明显差异。结论中晚期AIH-PBC重叠综合征临床、血清学及组织病理学表现出AIH和PBC双重特征，UDCA治疗有助于血生化指标的改善。     

Liver transplantation in autoimmune liver disease--selection of patients

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are autoimmune liver diseases, which are good indications for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). While there is effective treatment for AIH (steroids with or without azathioprine) and PBC (Ursodesoxycholic acid) no such treatment is currently established for PSC. The need for transplantation can be delayed for AIH and PBC with appropriate therapies, while treatment options for PSC are still controversially discussed. Although the time point for liver transplantation can be roughly estimated for AIH by failure of immunosuppressive therapy and for PBC by prognostic models, the prediction of survival in patients with PSC is more difficult, and further complicated through the risk of developing cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC). Long-term (5-year) outcome after liver transplantation approaches 80-90% for autoimmune liver diseases unless CC complicates PSC at the time of OLT. The risk of disease recurrence has been recognized for each of these entities although its clinical relevance is controversial. This gets more important as long-term survival can be achieved for most of these patients today. In this review the natural course of autoimmune liver disease will be discussed and prognostic models will be presented, which are helpful for finding the optimal time point for liver transplantation.     

The future of autoimmune liver diseases – Understanding pathogenesis and improving morbidity and mortality

Autoimmune liver diseases (AILD), namely autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), are rare diseases. These days, patients with PBC almost never require liver transplantation. When treated early with ursodeoxycholic acid patients have a normal life expectancy if the disease is diagnosed at an early stage and the patients respond to treatment. Patients with AIH often go into remission with first‐line therapy including corticosteroids alone or in combination with azathioprine. Nevertheless, about one quarter of patients already developed cirrhosis at diagnosis. Those who do not respond to first line standard of care (SOC) have significant liver‐related morbidity and mortality. No approved second‐ or third‐line treatments are available and the drugs are selected based on limited case series and personal experience. Larger trials are needed to develop efficient therapies for difficult‐to‐treat AIH patients. No treatment has been found to alter the natural course of disease in patients with PSC except for liver transplantation. Identifying PSC patients at risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is another unmet need. Current research in all AILD including AIH, PBC and PSC, focuses on improving our understanding of the underlying disease process and identifying new therapeutic targets to decrease morbidity and mortality.     

Recurrent and de novo autoimmune liver diseases

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) each account for approximately 5% of liver transplants per year performed in the United States and Europe. Even though outcomes are excellent, with reported 5-year patient and graft survival exceeding 90% and 80%, 80% and 75%, 72% and 65% for PBC, PSC, and AIH, respectively, the issue of recurrent autoimmune liver disease after orthotopic liver transplantation is increasingly recognized as a cause of graft dysfunction, death, and need for retransplantation. This article reviews diagnostic criteria, epidemiology, risk factors, and outcomes of recurrent PBC, PSC, and AIH after liver transplantation.     

Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) Elastography in Autoimmune and Cholestatic Liver Diseases

Introduction.Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) elastography evaluates hepatic fibrosis non-invasively and has been mainly validated in viral hepatitis. Data on rare liver diseases such as autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), overlap syndrome, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are sparse.Material and methods. 85 patients (including 31 AIH, 26 PBC, 16 PSC and 3 PSC-and 9 PBC-AIH-overlap syndromes) were retrospectively analysed pointing at ARFI elastography of the liver and the correlation with histologic Ishak fibrosis score (F0-6). Results of shear wave velocities (m/s) were expressed as mean ± standard deviation.Results. The mean shear wave velocity of all 85 patients showed 1.80 ± 0.84 m/s (0.74-3.98). The ARFI elastography values correlated with the degree of fibrosis in all patients overall and in patients with AIH, overlap syndrome and PSC, respectively. The subgroup of 26 patients with PBC (only with Ishak F > 3) revealed no correlation between ARFI and these early fibrosis stages (r = 0.019, p = 0.927). ARFI elastography correlated with bilirubin, AST, but not with patient age, body mass index or measurement depth. The cut-off of 2.04 m/s for detecting cirrhosis (Ishak F > 5) leads to a sensitivity of 90.0% and specificity of 74.7% (AUROC 87.2%).Conclusion. ARFI elastography can evaluate fibrosis in AIH, PSC and PSC-/PBC-AIH-overlap syndrome with good accuracy for the detection of hepatic cirrhosis. Shear wave velocities in PBC should be interpreted with caution in early stages of fibrosis.