Clinical characteristics of autoimmune hepatitis in older aged patients

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an inflammatory disease of the liver that usually develops in middle-aged women. However, due to the increasing aging of the population and better diagnostic facilities, AIH is now diagnosed in older patients as well. This analysis compared the clinical and pathologic characteristics of older and middle-aged patients with AIH.

Thirteen older patients with AIH (mean age, 75.0+/-5.3 years; range, 70-89 years) and 27 middle-aged patients (mean age, 51.3+/-5.8 years; range, 41-60 years) were included in this study. In addition, the use of different treatment regimens, including prednisolone therapy and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), was examined.

There were no significant differences in gender, complications of other autoimmune diseases, and liver function tests between groups. However, the degree of hepatic fibrosis was significantly higher in older patients compared with middle-aged patients (P<0.05). Four patients with AIH in the older age group were successfully managed by UDCA alone.

This study shows that older patients with abnormal liver function should be checked for AIH. In addition, UDCA may be an effective drug for management of older patients with AIH.