University of Debrecen joins European initiative to improve autoimmune hepatitis care
Experts from the University of Debrecen are participating in a four-year European collaboration aimed at improving the diagnosis, treatment and long-term care of autoimmune hepatitis, a rare chronic liver disease. The university’s gastroenterology research team will focus on personalised treatment approaches, with particular attention to childhood autoimmune hepatitis and the transition from paediatric to adult care.
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own liver cells, triggering inflammation and potentially causing progressive liver damage. Without treatment, persistent inflammation can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis and, in severe cases, liver failure requiring transplantation. However, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can effectively control the inflammation, allowing many patients to maintain a good quality of life over the long term.
Although the introduction of corticosteroids and azathioprine has significantly improved treatment over recent decades, therapeutic options remain limited. Many patients require long-term or even lifelong immunosuppressive therapy, which can have side effects that significantly affect their quality of life. Furthermore, not all patients respond adequately to existing treatments, and both treatment outcomes and clinical practices vary between countries and healthcare institutions.
These challenges were highlighted by Professor Mária Papp, head of the Department of Gastroenterology at the University of Debrecen’s Faculty of Medicine.
European Collaboration to Advance Personalised Treatment
The four-year international initiative, known as IMPACT (Integrated Management and Personalized Approaches for Autoimmune Hepatitis Care and Treatment), was launched to reduce differences in healthcare provision across Europe, facilitate the exchange of expertise and support the development of new treatment options and innovative research.
According to Professor Papp, the underlying mechanisms of autoimmune hepatitis are not yet fully understood. No single country or research centre has sufficient numbers of patients and resources to investigate every important aspect of the disease independently.
The international collaboration will enable researchers to share data and expertise, improve the comparability of research findings and coordinate clinical studies. Its ultimate goal is to provide patients with care better tailored to their individual disease characteristics, treatment responses and personal circumstances.
Researchers hope this approach will help reduce treatment-related side effects, improve patients’ quality of life and lead to better long-term outcomes.
Professor Papp emphasised that IMPACT is a research and collaboration programme. While it will help lay the groundwork for personalised therapies and new treatment options, it does not mean that existing treatments will change immediately or that new medicines will automatically receive approval.
Special Focus on Children and Different Stages of Life
The Department of Gastroenterology at the University of Debrecen’s Institute of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, and the DE-LIVER Hepatology Research Group have been invited to join the project.
The Debrecen team will focus on personalised therapeutic approaches, particularly childhood autoimmune hepatitis and the transition from paediatric to adult healthcare. Other key areas include family planning, reproductive health and the specific needs of patients at different stages of life.
Professor Papp described the university’s invitation to join the IMPACT network as both a significant professional recognition and an important opportunity. As a member of the project’s Steering Committee, she will also lead Work Package 4.
She said the collaboration would allow the university to contribute its clinical experience to international research and help shape European standards of care that better reflect the individual needs of people living with autoimmune hepatitis.
Debrecen Builds on Its Experience in Rare Liver Diseases
The Gastroenterology Clinic at the University of Debrecen Clinical Centre has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating autoimmune liver diseases.
International cooperation and specialised medical centres are particularly important for rare conditions, as they support earlier diagnosis, more appropriate treatment decisions and continuous improvements in patient care.
The university’s Department of Gastroenterology has been an associate member of ERN RARE-LIVER, the European Reference Network dedicated to rare liver diseases, since 2019 and became a full member in 2023. The network facilitates the exchange of specialist knowledge and promotes the development of personalised care.
Over the past eight years, the Debrecen research team has also contributed to bringing European expertise to Hungary, strengthening the quality of healthcare and advancing patient-centred approaches to chronic liver diseases.
Through its participation in IMPACT, the University of Debrecen aims to build on this experience and contribute to more consistent, effective and personalised autoimmune hepatitis care across Europe.
(unideb.hu)