Autoimmune hepatitis and multiple sclerosis: a coincidental association?

Abstract

In the present study we report, as part of a large multiple sclerosis (MS) cohort (1800 patients), three cases of untreated patients who developed autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The prevalence of AIH in the general population is about 0.0169% and seems to be higher in our MS cohort (0.17%). We suggest that a liver biopsy should systematically be performed in untreated MS patients with a sustained increase of liver enzyme.

Bolus de méthylprednisolone révélant une hépatite auto-immune chez une patiente atteinte de sclérose en plaques

“…L'association de la maladie à l'HAI est rare, rapportée uniquement sous forme de faits cliniques [2][3][4]. La prévalence de l'HAI semble, cependant, être dix fois supérieure chez les malades ayant une SEP par rapport à la population générale [5]. Celle-ci est évoquée devant la constatation de perturbations de la biologie hépatique, soit spontanée ou déclenchée par la prise médicamenteuse.…”

Autoimmune hepatitis after high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone pulse in RR-MS

“…The prevalence of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is about 0.017% in the general population and seems to be about ten times higher in MS patients, which raises the question whether or not humoral mechanisms play an important role in the association of these two diseases [2]. Administration of interferon beta is currently standard immunomodula-tory therapy for RR-MS.…”

Development of autoimmune hepatitis type 1 after pulsed methylprednisolone therapy for multiple sclerosis: A case report

“…In conclusion, the prevalence of AIH seems to be about 10-fold higher in patients with MS than in the general population [19] . Attention should be paid to the development of AIH after pulsed methylprednisolone or IFN-β treatment in patients with MS, and if AIH develops, immediate treatment with corticosteroids or azathioprine should be initiated.…”