Autoimmune Hepatitis Overview
Learn About Autoimmune Hepatitis
View Main Condition: Hepatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver. It occurs when immune cells mistake the liver's normal cells for harmful invaders and attack them.
Lupoid hepatitis; Chronic active hepatitis
This form of hepatitis is an autoimmune disease. The body's immune system cannot tell the difference between healthy body tissue and harmful, outside substances. The result is an immune response that destroys normal body tissues.
Liver inflammation, or hepatitis, may occur along with other autoimmune diseases. These include:
- Graves disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Scleroderma
- Sjögren syndrome
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Thyroiditis
- Type 1 diabetes
- Ulcerative colitis
Autoimmune hepatitis may occur in family members of people with autoimmune diseases. There may be a genetic cause.
This disease is most common in young girls and women.
Symptoms may include:
- Fatigue
- General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
- Itching
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Joint pain
- Pale or clay-colored stools
- Dark urine
- Abdominal distention
Absence of menstruation (amenorrhea) may also be a symptom.
You may need prednisone or other corticosteroid medicines to help reduce the inflammation. Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine are drugs used to treat other autoimmune disorders. They have also been shown to help people with autoimmune hepatitis.
Some people may need a liver transplant.
Providence Health And Services Mt
Peter Szekely is an Internal Medicine provider in Missoula, Montana. Dr. Szekely and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Autoimmune Hepatitis. His top areas of expertise are Familial Hypertension, Hypertension, Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, and Diabetic Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Syndrome. Dr. Szekely is currently accepting new patients.
Montana Gastroenterology, PLLC
Jeff Willis is a Gastroenterologist in Missoula, Montana. Dr. Willis and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Autoimmune Hepatitis. His top areas of expertise are Bile Duct Obstruction, Esophagitis, Familial Pancreatic Cancer, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy.
Montana Gastroenterology, PLLC
Kevin Kolendich is a Gastroenterologist in Missoula, Montana. Dr. Kolendich and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Autoimmune Hepatitis. His top areas of expertise are Swallowing Difficulty, Painful Swallowing, Lower Esophageal Ring, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.
The outcome varies. Corticosteroid medicines may slow the progress of the disease. However, autoimmune hepatitis may advance to cirrhosis. This could require a liver transplant.
Complications may include:
- Cirrhosis
- Side effects from steroids and other medicines
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
- Liver failure
- Bleeding from varices
- Ascites
- Hepatic encephalopathy
Contact your health care provider if you notice symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis.
In most cases, autoimmune hepatitis cannot be prevented. Knowing the risk factors may help you detect and treat the disease early.
Background: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare chronic and lifelong liver disease. Untreated, disease progresses to end-stage cirrhosis and the focus of therapy is with immunosuppression. Current therapies are limited, not targeted, and associated with side effects that patients report reduce quality of life. AIH is believed to arise as a consequence of genetic \& environmental risks. Disease is characteris...
Summary: The purpose of the registry is to know the status of primary biliary colgantis, autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholagitis and genetic cholestatic diseases in Spain.
Published Date: November 02, 2022
Published By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Czaja AJ. Autoimmune hepatitis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 90.
Pawlotsky J-M. Chronic viral and autoimmune hepatitis. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 140.