Auto Immune Hepatitis

[aljshm]

I have received a diagnosis of AIH. I am a 44 yr old male in otherwise good health and totally asymptomatic. I am supposedly in the grey area of whether treatment is necessary. I have had elevated liver functions for approx. 20 yrs (AST & ALT). No MD could tell me why. I recently had a liver biopsy that showed mild but not insignificant scarring (fibrosis)but my AST are 65 (normal is 60) and my ALT are normal. Protocol says Treatment is reqd if these tests are 10x normal (e.g.) 600 or 5 times normal with abnormal globulin (mine is normal). I am on the fence whether to have treatment because of the fibrosis and the pot. side effects of the treatment. The MD says he would prescribe prednisone and 6-mercatopurine. The merc. would supposedly allow me to wean off the prednisone quickly w/out the bad side effects associated with long term use of this drug. I would not even consider this treatment if the potential ramifications of not treating were not so extreme (e.g. transplant). I am leaning twds monitoring (1 - 2 blood tests/year and a biopsy every 2-5 years)and I always have the ability to take the drugs if it gets worse. Any thoughts or observations?

  

[Maari]

Hi

I was dx with AIH June 04.  My AST was 812 now 29 ALT 698 now 16.
I was started on pred and Imuran, have been off pred since Nov, now just on Imuran.  I am happy to say the negative side effects have gone away.

Your numbers do seem to give you some options.  There is someone else on this site who is being watched and monitored before any treatment is started. If both you and you Doctor are comfortable with that plan, go for it. As you stated you do have the option of starting the meds at any time.

Each of us responds differently and it is important that you have confidence in you dr.  Also do your research, learn everything you can about AIH.  Be sure to ask questions.  There is an all AIH site AutoImmuneHepatitis.co.uk  Check it out sometime.

Hang in there
Maari

[Jody Blonde]

I was diagnosed with both AIH and Hep C four years ago.  It was decided that the AIH was doing the most damage so I was put on prednisone & Imuran. I can only tell you that I have not had any problems as a result of these drugs. However, my viral load from the Hep C has climbed over the last year & half so I will now only take the prednisone along with treatment for the Hep C which starts this week.  Don't be afraid of the steroid treatment, it doesn't hurt, (but does cause a few extra pounds to be put on you.)