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Therapy of autoimmune diseases - state of the art

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Immunology and Liver

Part of the book series: Falk Symposium ((FASS,volume 114))

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Abstract

Prednisone alone or in combination with azathioprine is the established treatment of autoimmune hepatitis1-5. Remission occurs in 65% of treated patients within 2 years6,7 and immediate survival is improved8. The 10-year life expectancy of treated patients is 93% and is similar to that of an age- and sex-matched normal population9. Patients with histological cirrhosis at presentation have the same 10-year survival expectation as those without this finding (89% and 90%, respectively) and they respond similarly to initial therapy9. In contrast, untreated patients with disease of comparable severity have a 3-year survival of 50% and a 10-year life expectancy of 10%10. Prospective studies describe a mortality as high as 40% within 6 months8.

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Authors
  1. A. J. Czaja
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Abt. Gastroenterologie/Hepatologie Zentrum Innere Medizin, Medizinische Hochscule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg Str. 1, D-30625, Hannover, Germany

    M. P. Manns

  2. Medizinische Klinik II, Klinikum Grosshadern der LMU München, Marchioninistr. 15, D-81377, München, Germany

    G. Paumgartner

  3. Abt. Gastroenterologie Zentrum der Innere Medizin, Klinikum der Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, D-60596, Frankfurt, Germany

    U. Leuschner

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Czaja, A.J. (2000). Therapy of autoimmune diseases - state of the art. In: Manns, M.P., Paumgartner, G., Leuschner, U. (eds) Immunology and Liver. Falk Symposium, vol 114. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4000-3_27

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4000-3_27

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

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