Let Paris Be Your Guide

Overlap syndromes in autoimmune-related liver disease are uncommon and can be difficult to diagnose. For the primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) overlap syndrome specifically, we have the so-called “Paris criteria” as a diagnostic tool, but it has not been previously validated. We also have AIH-specific diagnostic criteria, of which a simplified version has recently been proposed (JW Gastroenterol Oct 30 2008).

Now, researchers have assessed the diagnostic value of the Paris criteria and the AIH-specific criteria. They retrospectively studied laboratory, clinical, and histologic data from all 134 patients aged 75 or younger who had received a clinical diagnosis of PBC, AIH, or the overlap syndrome at a single cente…