Swiss autoimmune hepatitis cohort
Official title: Swiss Autoimmune Hepatitis Cohort Study
Run by Fondazione Epatocentro Ticino · NCT03146884 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project collects yearly health information and blood samples from people in Switzerland with autoimmune hepatitis to learn about the disease, treatments, and outcomes.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 500 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Fondazione Epatocentro Ticino Academic / other |
| Locations | 20 sites (Lugano, Canton Ticino and 19 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 16, 2017 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2030 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | August 18, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT03146884 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
People of any age with a confirmed diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (type I or II) who live in Switzerland are eligible.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who live outside Switzerland or those seeking access to experimental drug treatments will not benefit directly from this observational, data- and biobank-focused project.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a prospective national cohort that enrolls people diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis and follows them at least once a year, with a 6-month follow-up for newly diagnosed patients. Whole blood is collected annually for a centralized biobank and liver tissue may be banked if available from routine clinical care. The cohort aims to capture high-quality clinical data on epidemiology, natural history, treatment response, and outcomes and to serve as a platform for scientific projects and international collaboration. About 500 participants are planned, representing roughly one-third of the estimated Swiss AIH population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the cohort could improve understanding of autoimmune hepatitis and support better diagnosis, prognostic markers, and more informed treatment decisions.
How similar studies have gone: National and international AIH registries and biobanks have previously produced useful natural-history and biomarker insights, so this cohort follows an established and productive model.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * diagnosis of AIH, either type I or type II * Only patients living in Switzerland Exclusion Criteria: * N/A
Where it's running
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Fondazione Epatocentro Ticino
Lugano, Canton Ticino, Switzerland Recruiting -
Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie Clarunis - Universitäres Bauchzentrum, Universitätsspital Basel
Basel, Switzerland Recruiting -
Universitäts-Kinderspital beider Basel UKBB, Gastroenterologie&Ernährung
Basel, Switzerland Recruiting -
Inselspital
Bern, Switzerland Recruiting -
Kinderklinik, INSELSpital, Universität Bern, Pädiatrische Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Ernährung
Bern, Switzerland Recruiting -
Kantonsspital Graubünden
Chur, Switzerland Recruiting
Show 14 more locations
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Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Centre Suisse des Maladies du foie de l'Enfant- Département de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent
Geneva, Switzerland Recruiting -
Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Service de Gastroentérologie & Hépatologie, Département des Spécialités
Geneva, Switzerland Recruiting -
CHUV: Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois
Lausanne, Switzerland Recruiting -
CHUV Département femme-mère-enfant
Lausanne, Switzerland Recruiting -
Kantonsspital Baselland
Liestal, Switzerland Recruiting -
Kinderspital Luzern LUKS, Pädiatrische Gastroenterologie
Lucerne, Switzerland Recruiting -
Luzerner Kantonsspital
Lucerne, Switzerland Recruiting -
EOC Ospedale Regionale di Lugano - Italiano
Lugano, Switzerland Recruiting -
Ostschweizer Kinderspital
Sankt Gallen, Switzerland Recruiting -
Kantonsspital St.Gallen
Sankt Gallen, Switzerland Recruiting -
Kantonsspital Winterthur
Winterthur, Switzerland Recruiting -
Kinderspital Winterthur, Klinik für Gastroenterologie & Hepatologie
Winterthur, Switzerland Recruiting -
Universitäts-Kinderspital Zürich - Eleonorenstiftung
Zurich, Switzerland Recruiting -
Universitätsspital Zürich
Zurich, Switzerland Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Andreas Cerny, Prof. Dr. med
- Email: andreas.cerny@hin.ch
- Phone: +41 91 910 6570
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Inebilizumab for Autoimmune Hepatitis: a study in adults
This trial tests whether inebilizumab can be safely used in adults with autoimmune hepatitis and whether it helps reduce liver disease activity and the need for steroids.
-
Pediatric autoimmune hepatitis: can a vegan diet reduce reliance on immunosuppressants
In children with autoimmune hepatitis, this study tests whether adding a vegan diet for six months to standard treatment can help achieve liver disease remission compared with a standard high-protein diet.
-
Identifying liver disease-specific gut microbiomes
This study is trying to find out if certain gut bacteria are linked to chronic liver diseases in adults, including autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis, by analyzing blood and stool samples from patients and their household members.
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Using Siplizumab to prevent immune issues in liver transplant patients with autoimmune liver disease
This study is testing if a new medication called siplizumab can help prevent immune problems in adults with autoimmune liver disease who are getting a liver transplant.
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Using Belimumab to treat Autoimmune Hepatitis
This study is testing if Belimumab can help people with autoimmune hepatitis feel better and improve their liver function when other treatments haven't worked.
-
Comparing Mediterranean and Western diets for fatigue in autoimmune hepatitis patients
This study is testing whether following a Mediterranean diet or a Western diet can help reduce fatigue and improve quality of life for people with autoimmune hepatitis.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.