Don’t fight Autoimmune hepatitis alone.
Find your community on the free RareGuru App.Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease in which the body’s immune system attacks liver cells. This immune response causes inflammation of the liver, also called hepatitis. The disease can be quite serious and, if not treated, gets worse over time, leading to cirrhosis of the liver and/or liver failure. Autoimmune hepatitis likely results from a combination of autoimmunity, environmental triggers, and a genetic predisposition. It occurs more frequently in females. Treatment typically includes corticosteroids and medications that suppress the immune system. In severe cases, a liver transplant may be needed.
Source: GARD Last updated on 05-01-20
Signs and symptoms in people with autoimmune hepatitis range from mild to severe depending on the amount of liver damage present. Symptoms are generally due to scarring of liver tissue (cirrhosis). Some people have no symptoms at first and are diagnosed after being evaluated for another health problem. Some of the most common signs and symptoms in people with autoimmune hepatitis may be nonspecific and include:
Other signs and symptoms that may develop as the disease progresses include:
Some symptoms a person experiences may be due to other underlying heath conditions or autoimmune diseases that are associated with autoimmune hepatitis.
Last updated on 05-01-20
The underlying cause of autoimmune hepatitis is not known. It is possible that any of several genetic or environmental factors (such as medications or viral infections) may trigger the disease. People with another autoimmune disease or a family history of autoimmune disease may be more likely to develop autoimmune hepatitis.
Symptoms of autoimmune diseases in general are caused by the body's immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissues and cells. In the case of autoimmune hepatitis, the body's immune system attacks healthy liver tissue, ultimately damaging the liver.
Last updated on 05-01-20
The diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis is typically made based on a person's signs and symptoms, medical history, various blood tests, and a liver biopsy. Blood tests may be able to tell autoimmune hepatitis apart from viral hepatitis, or from other health problems that cause similar symptoms. A liver biopsy can confirm the diagnosis and determine the extent of liver damage. Sometimes a person with no symptoms is suspected of having the disease after a routine health exam or when being evaluated for another health problem.
Last updated on 05-01-20
Treatment for autoimmune hepatitis should be managed by a hepatologist, which is a doctor who specializes in liver disease. Treatment aims to suppress the immune system, which is overactive in people with this disease. In many cases, especially when the disease is diagnosed early, treatment can slow the progression of the disease and may reverse some of the liver damage that has already occurred. People who have no symptoms or have a very mild form of the disease may not need treatment. A hepatologist may evaluate symptoms and use various laboratory tests to determine when a person should begin treatment.
Medications that may be used initially ("induction therapy") include :
Most people go into remission with initial treatment within two to three years. This means that their symptoms improve, and laboratory tests show that liver function is improving. In some cases, people who achieve remission can taper off medications for a period of time. However, relapses are common, and many people need long-term management ("maintenance therapy") to keep the disease under control. Maintenance therapy may involve long-term use of much lower doses of prednisone or azathioprine, which are effective in controlling the disease is most people.
Some people do not respond to treatment or cannot continue treatment due to side effects. If the disease progresses and causes severe cirrhosis and liver failure, a liver transplant may be needed. About 10-20% of people with autoimmune hepatitis eventually need a liver transplant.
Last updated on 05-01-20
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