From the Research
Navicixizumab is not currently established as a standard treatment for autoimmune liver diseases, and patients should continue standard immunosuppressive regimens under specialist supervision. Autoimmune liver diseases, including autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis, are typically treated with immunosuppressive medications such as corticosteroids (prednisone, starting at 30-60 mg daily and tapering), azathioprine (1-2 mg/kg/day), or other agents like mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine, or tacrolimus depending on the specific condition and patient response 1. The treatment of choice in AIH is a combined immunosuppressive therapy of prednisolone and azathioprine, while ursodeoxycholic acid is the treatment of choice for PBC and improves liver biochemistry and prolongs transplant-free survival by slowing histological progression in the majority of patients 2.
Key Points to Consider
- The current standard treatment for autoimmune liver diseases does not include Navicixizumab, and its use remains investigational 3.
- Patients with autoimmune liver diseases should be monitored for disease activity through liver function tests, immunoglobulin levels, and periodic liver biopsies as recommended by their hepatologist 4.
- The diagnosis of autoimmune liver diseases can be facilitated by sequential measurement of relevant autoantibodies, exclusion of other liver disease, ultrasound, ERCP, and liver histology 5.
- Immunosuppressive therapy has been shown to prevent or stop the development of cirrhosis and improve the prognosis of patients with AIH, while ursodesoxycholic acid seems to slow disease progression in particular in early stages of PBC 5.
Treatment Approach
The treatment approach for autoimmune liver diseases should be individualized and based on the specific condition and patient response. Standard immunosuppressive regimens should be continued under specialist supervision, and patients should be monitored for disease activity and potential complications. While Navicixizumab may represent a potential future therapeutic option, its current investigational status means that it should not be used as a standard treatment for autoimmune liver diseases.