Suitability of the simplified autoimmune hepatitis score for the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis in a German cohort.

Background: Several years ago the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group simplified the previous for diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) into a scoring system based on only four instead of 13 parameters.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the suitability of the AIH score for diagnosis of AIH in a German cohort with chronic liver diseases.

Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, we compared the accuracy of both AIH scores in 70 patients with AIH and 211 patients with chronic liver diseases (PBC ( = 52), PSC ( = 27), NASH ( = 67), DILI ( = 15), CHB/C ( = 50)). Sensitivity, specificity and predictability of each scoring system were calculated.

Results: Using the AIH score, the sensitivity and specificity of detecting a AIH (scores ≥ 6) were 96% and 97% with a positive and negative predictive value of 92% and 99%, respectively. For diagnosis of AIH (scores ≥ 7), the sensitivity and specificity were 43% and 100% with a positive and negative predictive value of 97% and 84%, respectively. The concordance with the criteria was 63%. The specificity for excluding AIH was excellent in both scoring system.

Conclusion: The diagnostic criteria allow a reliable diagnosis of AIH in a German cohort.