Immunosuppressant Therapy
Immunosuppressant therapy is a standard treatment regimen for patients with cirrhosis caused by autoimmune hepatitis. It is a preventive measure recommended to patients to slow the progression of liver disease. Physicians must review the primary goals of immunosuppressant therapy with patients before placing them under it.
This treatment reduces liver inflammation, improves overall liver chemistry, and alleviates symptoms. However, patients should also be informed that while some patients may achieve remission from using immunosuppressants after one to two years of treatment, there are cases wherein lifelong monitoring and treatment are required.
Physicians usually prescribe prednisone to adult cirrhotic patients at 20 to 40 mg. per day. On the other hand, children are typically recommended to take 1 to 2 mg/kg/day. Azathioprine is prescribed at a 50 to 50 mg/day dosage in patients with well-compensated cirrhosis. For patients with decompensated cirrhosis, azathioprine is contraindicated. Response to immunosuppressants will be assessed four to eight weeks after beginning their therapy. Maintenance therapy for cirrhotic patients with autoimmune hepatitis is recommended to achieve biochemical remission.
