autoimmune hepatitis

[rosemary]

My son, 19 yrs, was diagnosed with AIH in Jan. He is a patient at Duke Medical Center of a gatro dr. He was diagnosed pretty fast with i am forever thankful for. My question is whether we should switch to a hepatologist from his gastro? His gastro dr does list liver clinic under his name. His route of treatment for my son has been the same that i see of other patients from the message boards. He started out on 20mgs of pred, which he took for about a month and then it was lowered to 15 for 2 wks and then 12.5 for 2 weeks and then 10mgs. This is when his flareup occured. They up's his pred to 30mgs for a week and then 20 until his enzyme levels are back to normal. This seems to me to be much faster reducing of meds than others have mentioned. His enzyme levels were in the 1000's when he was diagnosed and his bilirubin was 10. After a biopsy the dr says he has no permanent liver damage. I pray that it is true. Should i change to a hepatologist?  Thanks so much for yor reply. You are most helpful and i am so thinakful for a place like this to go to.

Rosemary