Autoimmune Hepatitis

Causes

Autoimmune hepatitis is liver inflammation that occurs when your’s immune system turns against liver cells. The exact cause of autoimmune hepatitis is unclear, but genetic and enviromental factors appear to interact over time in triggering the disease. Untreated autoimmune hepatitis can lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) and eventually to liver failure.

Symptoms and Signs

Autoimmune hepatitis may present as acute or chronic hepatitis or as well-established cirrhosis, although in rare cases it presents as fulminant hepatic failure. Approximately one third of patients present with symptoms of acute hepatitis marked by fever, hepatic tenderness, and jaundice. Some patients go on to develop signs and symptoms of chronic liver disease, while others rapidly progress to acute liver failure, as marked by coagulopathy and jaundice.

Diagnosis

  • Laboratory tests
  • Liver biopsy

Treatment

  • Immunosuppressive glucocorticoids
  • Azathioprine
  • Liver transplantation