Does Recurrent Autoimmune Hepatitis after Liver Transplant have an Impact on Patient and Graft Survival?
G Testa; J Crippin; O Abbasoglu; RM Goldstein; BS Husberg; DR Jeyarajah; MF Levy; GB Klintmalm; Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas Introduction: Autoimmune chronic hepatitis (AICH) is a non-viral liver disease that can be treated by Orthotopic Liver Transplantation (OLT). The aim of the study is to determine the impact of recurrent AICH on patient and graft survival and the influence of HLA type, immunosuppressive therapy and rejection episodes. Methods: Between 1985 and 1996, 54 patients (pts) underwent OLT for end-stage liver disease due to AICH. Two pts with graft survival less than 3 months were excluded. Pts were diagnosed as having recurrent disease in the presence of increased liver biochemistries, histopathological findings of chronic hepatitis, and negative serology for viral disease. The timing of recurrence with regard to HLA type, immunosuppressive regimen, and rejection episodes was studied. Results: Ten pts were diagnosed with recurrent AICH at a mean of 11.8
