Autoimmune Hepatitis/Overlap Syndromes

When autoimmune hepatitis has features of primary biliary cholangitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis, these mixed clinical phenotypes constitute overlap syndromes. Diagnostic criteria have been promulgated, but clinical judgement and liver tissue examination remain cornerstones of diagnosis. Cholestatic laboratory and histological findings, concurrent inflammatory bowel disease, or non-response to conventional corticosteroid therapy compel practitioners to consider overlap in patients with autoimmune hepatitis. Laboratory indices of marked liver inflammation and histological findings of moderate to severe interface hepatitis, especially with lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, also warrant consideration of overlap in patients with primary biliary cholangitis or primary sclerosing cholangitits. Treatment recommendations to date have been based on weak clinical evidence, and disease management should be individualized and guided by the predominant disease component. Prednisone or prednisolone in combination with azathioprine has been used in patients with predominantly autoimmune hepatitis, whereas low dose ursodeoxycholic acid in conjunction with corticosteroid-based regimens has bee