Autoimmune Hepatitis in Children and Adolescents: Effect on Quality of Life

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) on the quality of life of children and adolescents and to identify which variables effect health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0) was used to evaluate HRQoL. In addition, a questionnaire was applied which included signs, symptoms, and use of medications. Results: A total of 43 patients (mean age, 15.0 ± 3.9 years; 65.1% girls; 90.7% with type 1 AIH) was evaluated. Advanced liver disease was present in 30.2%, and 18.6% had sclerosing cholangitis. Treatment was effective in 93.1% of patients. The lowest HRQoL scores were associated with the school (67.7), emotional (68.2), and psychosocial (75.5) domains. Compared with healthy children, patients presented lower scores on the total, psychosocial, emotional, and school domains (P 
Source: Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition - Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original Articles: Hepatology Source Type: research