Autoimmune Hepatitis as a Unique Form of an Autoimmune Liver Disease: Immunological Aspects and Clinical Overview

Table 3

Common side effects of initial immune suppression therapy.

(A) Side effects of prednisone/prednisolone
(i) Acne
(ii) Moon-shaped face
(iii) Striae
(iv) Dorsal hump
(v) Obesity
(vi) Weight gain
(vii) Loss of bone density (bone density testing is required with bone density treatment in elderly)
(viii) Diabetes mellitus (especially in elderly)
(ix) Adrenal suppression on long use
(x) Cataract
(xi) Hypertension
(B) Side effects of azathioprine
(i) Nausea
(ii) Vomiting
(iii) Abdominal discomforts
(iv) Hepatotoxicity (sometimes confuse with the flare of AIH)
(v) Rash
(vi) Bone marrow suppression with leukocytopenia (may require dose readjustment, more common in cases of cirrhosis)
(vii) Risk of lymphoma