Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2019.60.345
The efficacy and adverse effects of budesonide in remission induction treatment of autoimmune hepatitis: a retrospective study
Ömer Burcak Binicier
; Department of Gastroenterology, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey
Süleyman Günay
; Department of Gastroenterology, İzmir Katip Çelebi UniversityAtatürk Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey
Abstract
Aim To compare the early biochemical response and rate
of adverse effects in patients who received prednisolone
(PRED)/azathioprine (AZA) and those who received budesonide
(BUD)/AZA as the first-line treatment for autoimmune
hepatitis.
Methods The study involved 25 patients receiving PRED
30 mg/day + AZA 50 mg/day and 25 patients receiving
BUD 9 mg/day + AZA 50 mg/day from February 2015 to
February 2018. Biochemical and hemogram data at baseline
and after 6 months of treatment, and adverse effects
observed in the follow-up, were compared. Results There was no difference between the groups in
biochemical response (17 patients receiving PRED/AZA
and 18 receiving BUD/AZA) and the rate of adverse effects
(9 patients receiving PRED/AZA and 5 receiving BUD/AZA).
The total number of adverse effects in the BUD/AZA group
was lower (15 vs 7) and the treatment was discontinued
in 2 (8%) patients in PRED/AZA group, while no treatment
discontinuation was observed in BUD/AZA group.
Conclusions This study showed no differences in biochemical
response between the groups. Lower, although
not significantly, rate of adverse effects and lower total
number of adverse effects indicate that BUD/AZA may potentially
be used as the first-line treatment of choice, especially
in patients with obesity, diabetes, resistant hypertension,
glaucoma, or osteoporosis.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
240100
URI
Publication date:
15.8.2019.
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