Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41966265›Full record

ArticleJHEP reports : innovation in hepatology2026

Paediatric autoimmune liver disease in Europe, the prospective ERN R-LIVER registry.

Mikkel Malham, Gema Muñoz Bartolo, Antal Dezsöfi-Gottl, Steffen Hartleif, Loreto Hierro Llanillo, Daniel Teglmeyer, Alessio Gerussi, Virag Hives, Norman Junge, Andrea Briem-Richter and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JHEP reports : innovation in hepatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Mikkel MalhamDepartment of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager & Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark; European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: Mikkel.malham.knudsen.01@regionh.dk.
Gema Muñoz BartoloEuropean Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Hamburg, Germany; Paediatric Hepatology Department, University Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
Antal Dezsöfi-GottlEuropean Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Hamburg, Germany; Paediatric Centre, MTA Centre of Excellence, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Steffen HartleifEuropean Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Hamburg, Germany; Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Loreto Hierro LlanilloEuropean Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Hamburg, Germany; Paediatric Hepatology Department, University Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
Daniel TeglmeyerEuropean Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Hamburg, Germany; Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Transplantation, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Alessio GerussiDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy; Centre for Autoimmune Liver Diseases & Division of Gastroenterology, European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy.
Virag HivesEuropean Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Hamburg, Germany; Paediatric Centre, MTA Centre of Excellence, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Norman JungeEuropean Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Hamburg, Germany; Division for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Paediatric Kidney, Liver, and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Andrea Briem-RichterEuropean Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Hamburg, Germany; Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Transplantation, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Marianne Hørby JørgensenDepartment of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Hamburg, Germany.
ERN RARE-LIVER

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND &

aimsMost literature on paediatric autoimmune liver disease (P-AILD) comprises single-centre, retrospective studies. This study aims to describe robust, real-world data for P-AILD during the first year following diagnosis, utilising data from the prospective European Reference Network (ERN) R-LIVER registry.

methodsAll patients younger than 18 years with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) or autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (ASC) enrolled in the ERN R-LIVER registry from January 2017 to October 2023 and with >12 months of follow-up were included. Each participating centre recorded data from three time points: diagnosis, 6 and 12 months.

resultsA total of 116 patients with P-AILD were enrolled. Seventy-one patients had AIH1, eight had AIH2, and 37 had ASC. At diagnosis, 27% had cirrhosis. Large duct disease was diagnosed in 45% of ASC. Inflammatory bowel disease was present in 14% at diagnosis. No differences were found in presentation and outcome between AIH1 and 2. Most patients (94%) began treatment with standard therapy (prednisolone with/without thiopurines), and 80% were kept on it during the first year. Complete biochemical remission was achieved by 44 (42%) at 6 months and by 45 (42%) at 1 year, while normal ALT (<45) and IgG (age dependent) levels were observed in 81 (72%) and 53 (51%), respectively, at 12 months. All patients were alive at the end of follow-up, and two required liver transplantation.

conclusionsShort-term survival in P-AILD is excellent. However, less than half of patients with P-AILD patients achieved complete biochemical remission at 1 year, with ASC and cirrhosis as main predictors of failure. These findings emphasise the need for improved therapeutic strategies. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: This prospective registry study supports current treatment strategies in paediatric autoimmune liver disease by describing real-world immunosuppression use and remission outcomes. These observations are important for paediatric hepatologists and researchers, as they provide contemporary insights into treatment response and also highlight variability in clinical practice. In practice, the results can inform clinical counselling, guide follow-up intensity, and help identify areas where harmonised care pathways and further collaborative research are needed to improve outcomes.

Indexed as

Cholangitis, SclerosingHepatitis, AutoimmuneLiver CirrhosisAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolEuropeFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansImmunosuppressive AgentsLiver TransplantationMaleMercaptopurinePrednisoloneProspective StudiesImmunosuppressive AgentsMercaptopurinePrednisoloneAutoimmune hepatitisAutoimmune sclerosing cholangitisPaediatrics

Identifiers

PMID41966265
PMCPMC13315192

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