Autoimmune Hepatitis in Children and Adolescents: Effect on Quality of Life

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) on the quality of life of children and adolescents and to identify which variables effect health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0) was used to evaluate HRQoL. In addition, a questionnaire was applied which included signs, symptoms, and use of medications.

A total of 43 patients (mean age, 15.0 ± 3.9 years; 65.1% girls; 90.7% with type 1 AIH) was evaluated. Advanced liver disease was present in 30.2%, and 18.6% had sclerosing cholangitis. Treatment was effective in 93.1% of patients. The lowest HRQoL scores were associated with the school (67.7), emotional (68.2), and psychosocial (75.5) domains. Compared with healthy children, patients presented lower scores on the total, psychosocial, emotional, and school domains (P < 0.05). The presence of symptoms (β = 0.39, P < 0.01), extrahepatic autoimmune diseases (β = 0.27, P < 0.05), and a dislike of taking medication (β = 0.40, P < 0.01) negatively affected the psychosocial PedsQL 4.0 score, and the presence of symptoms (β = 0.40, P < 0.01) negatively affected the total PedsQL 4.0 score.

AIH has a significant and negative effect on HRQoL among children and adolescents. The presence of symptoms, extrahepatic autoimmune diseases, and a dislike of taking medication were associated with the worsening of HRQoL. Providers should work with professionals trained to improve QoL to help improve treatment adherence and disease outcomes.