OBJECTIVES: Pregnancy in autoimmune hepatitis has been a rare event, but it has become more frequent with improved therapy. The present study aimed to analyze the consequences for mother and child in patients with autoimmune hepatitis. METHODS: Fourteen pregnancies have been followed in five patients with autoimmune chronic hepatitis (AIH) and in one with autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (overlap AIH-PSC). RESULTS: Features of AIH improved markedly from the second trimester of pregnancy onward, allowing a decrease in immunosuppressive therapy. After delivery (or stillbirth in one patient), the activity of the autoimmune disease flared up rapidly in 12 of 14 events. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy induces a state of immune tolerance with improvement of the liver tests in AIH. This could result from a transition of TH1 to TH2 predominance during pregnancy. A flare-up often occurs after delivery. Preemptive increase of the immunosuppressive therapy is therefore advocated consecutive to delivery. Azathioprine use seems to be safe during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVES: Pregnancy in autoimmune hepatitis has been a rare event, but it has become more frequent with improved therapy. The present study aimed to analyze the consequences for mother and child in patients with autoimmune hepatitis. METHODS: Fourteen pregnancies have been followed in five patients with autoimmune chronic hepatitis (AIH) and in one with autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (overlap AIH-PSC). RESULTS: Features of AIH improved markedly from the second trimester of pregnancy onward, allowing a decrease in immunosuppressive therapy. After delivery (or stillbirth in one patient), the activity of the autoimmune disease flared up rapidly in 12 of 14 events. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy induces a state of immune tolerance with improvement of the liver tests in AIH. This could result from a transition of TH1 to TH2 predominance during pregnancy. A flare-up often occurs after delivery. Preemptive increase of the immunosuppressive therapy is therefore advocated consecutive to delivery. Azathioprine use seems to be safe during pregnancy.
Authors: Jan Broder Engler; Nina Kursawe; María Emilia Solano; Kostas Patas; Sabine Wehrmann; Nina Heckmann; Fred Lühder; Holger M Reichardt; Petra Clara Arck; Stefan M Gold; Manuel A Friese Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2017-01-03 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Ashraf A Almashhrawi; Khulood T Ahmed; Rubayat N Rahman; Ghassan M Hammoud; Jamal A Ibdah Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2013-11-21 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: Alexandra Maximiliane Hierweger; Jan Broder Engler; Manuel A Friese; Holger M Reichardt; John Lydon; Francesco DeMayo; Hans-Willi Mittrücker; Petra Clara Arck Journal: Am J Reprod Immunol Date: 2019-01-28 Impact factor: 3.886