Table 2.
Variables related to the presentation of autoimmune hepatitis according to the age of diagnosis, n (%)
|
|
Younger than 60 years (n = 57)
|
Older than 60 years (n = 40)
|
P value
|
| Type of presentation of autoimmune hepatitis | 0.391 | ||
| Asymptomatic | 8 (14) | 10 (25) | |
| Insidious | 25 (44) | 15 (37.5) | |
| Acute | 24 (42) | 15 (37.5) | |
| Debut symptoms | |||
| Jaundice | 43 (75) | 17 (44) | 0.002 |
| Fatigue | 33 (58) | 12 (31) | 0.009 |
| Pruritus | 10 (18) | 2 (5) | 0.071 |
| Arthralgia | 10 (18) | 3 (8) | 0.156 |
| Ascites | 1 (2) | 5 (13) | 0.028 |
| Encephalopathy | 0 (0) | 1 (3) | - |
| Laboratory at diagnosis [median (interquartile range)] | |||
| Aspartate aminotransferase | 1016 (581-1301) | 299 (100-746) | 0.0008 |
| Alanine aminotransferase | 998 (464-1438) | 334 (76-770) | 0.0002 |
| Alkaline phosphatases | 196 (146-254) | 258 (143-394) | 0.475 |
| Total bilirubin | 4.7 (2.5-7.8) | 1.8 (1.1-6.7) | 0.022 |
| Albumin | 3.7 (3.3-4.2) | 3.4 (3.2-3.9) | 0.128 |
| Serology at diagnosis | |||
| Immunoglobulin G [median (interquartile range)] | 2020 (1740-2380) | 1810 (1410-2440) | 0.198 |
| Anti-nuclear antibodies (positive) | 48 (87) | 35 (92) | 0.460 |
| Anti-smooth muscle antibodies (positive) | 33 (60) | 23 (59) | 0.920 |
| Hepatic biopsy | |||
| Presence of fibrosis | 37 (65) | 37 (93) | 0.002 |
| Advanced fibrosis F3-F4 | 15 (41) | 25 (68) | 0.020 |
| Prednisone doses | < 0.001 | ||
| Without prednisone | 0 (0) | 2 (5) | |
| 10-20 mg | 0 (0) | 10 (25) | |
| 20-40 mg | 16 (28) | 12 (30) | |
| 40-60 mg | 41 (72) | 16 (40) | |
| Pharmacological treatment at 6 months | - | ||
| Without prednisone | 0 | 2 | |
| Prednisone only | 0 | 0 | |
| Prednisone + azathioprine | 55 | 32 | |
| Prednisone + mycophenolate | 2 | 5 | |
| Prednisone + tacrolimus | 0 | 1 |