Autoimmune hepatitis in children: A prospective study from a Tertiary Center in Upper Egypt

Background: The growing global prevalence of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), an inflammatory liver disease of unknown cause in children, underscores the urgent need for comprehensive studies in Egypt. Specifically, research is deficient in characterizing the features and outcomes of pediatric AIH within Upper Egypt. Objectives: To assess the clinical, laboratory, histological, and treatment-related aspects of AIH in children at Sohag University Hospital. Patients and Methods: The study design was a prospective observational cohort, encompassing 24 pediatric patients (19 females, 5 males) diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) based on the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAIHG) scoring system. Patient recruitment occurred within the Department of Pediatrics, Sohag University Hospital, Sohag University, between August 2023 and July 2024. Results: Among 24 children diagnosed with AIH, 22 had Type I, one patient had type II and one had seronegative AIH. Jaundice was the main presentation. Complete remission was achieved in 66.67% of patients, while 20.83% of patients had partial response and relapse occurred in12.5% of patients. Both hepatitis activity index and AIH score were significantly higher in patients who developed relapse compared to patients with partial and complete remission. Conclusion: This study confirms that type 1 AIH as the primary form in children at our center, with female predominance(79.16%) and good treatment response(66.67%). Yet, the association between higher disease activity scores and relapse underscores the importance of vigilant monitoring and the necessity for expanded, long-term research.