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1.. American Liver Foundation - Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease in which the body's own immune system

attacks the liver and causes it to become inflamed. The disease is chronic, ...

www.liverfoundation.org/education/info/aihep/ - 25k -

2.. Etiology and Outcome of Acute Liver Failure

AIH, autoimmune hepatitis; ALF, acute liver failure; HAV, hepatitis A virus;

HBV , hepatitis B virus; HEV, hepatitis E virus; SAE, severe acute exacerbation

....

www.medscape.com/viewarticle/579414_Tables -

Resources > Liver Disease Info > Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune Hepatitis

Explore this section to learn more about autoimmune hepatitis, including a

description of the disease and how it's diagnosed.

What is autoimmune hepatitis?

Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease in which the body's own immune system

attacks the liver and causes it to become inflamed. The disease is chronic,

meaning it lasts many years. If untreated, it can lead to cirrhosis and liver

failure.

There are two forms of this disease. Type 1, or classic, autoimmune hepatitis

is the more common form. This is the form that mostly affects young women and is

often associated with other autoimmune diseases. Type 2 autoimmune hepatitis is

less common and generally affects girls between the ages of 2 and 14.

What causes autoimmune hepatitis?

Your immune system normally attacks bacteria, viruses and other invading

organisms. It is not supposed to attack your own cells; if it does, the response

is called autoimmunity. In autoimmune hepatitis, your immune system attacks your

liver cells, causing long-term inflammation and liver damage. Scientists don't

know why the body attacks itself in this way, although heredity and prior

infections may play a role.

What are the symptoms and complications of autoimmune hepatitis?

Often, the symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis are minor. When symptoms do occur,

the most common are fatigue, abdominal discomfort, aching joints, itching,

jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), enlarged liver, nausea

and spider angiomas (blood vessels) on the skin. Other symptoms may include dark

urine, loss of appetite, pale stools and absence of menstruation. More severe

complications can include ascites (fluid in the abdomen) and mental confusion.

In 10%-20% of cases, autoimmune hepatitis may present with symptoms like an

acute hepatitis.

How is autoimmune hepatitis diagnosed?

Autoimmune hepatitis often occurs suddenly. Initially, you may feel like you

have a mild case of the flu. To confirm a diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis,

your doctor will use blood tests and a liver biopsy, in which a sample of liver

tissue is removed with a needle for examination in a laboratory.

How is autoimmune hepatitis treated?

The goal of treatment is to stop the body's attack on itself by suppressing

the immune system. This is accomplished with a medicine called prednisone, a

type of steroid. Often times, a second drug, azathioprine (Imuran) is also used.

Treatment starts with a high dose of prednisone. When symptoms improve, the

dosage is lowered and azathioprine may be added.In most cases, autoimmune

hepatitis can be controlled but not cured. That is why most patients will need

to stay on the medicine for years, and sometimes for life. Unfortunately,

long-term use of steroid can cause serious side effects including diabetes,

osteoporosis, high blood pressure, glaucoma, weight gain and decreased

resistance to infection. Other medications may be needed to control these side

effects.

Who is at risk for autoimmune hepatitis?

About 70 percent of people with autoimmune hepatitis are women, usually

between the ages of 15 and 40. Many people with this disease also have other

autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes, thyroiditis (inflammation of the

thyroid gland), ulcerative colitis (inflammation of the colon), vitiligo (patchy

loss of skin pigmentation), or Sjogren's syndrome (dry eyes and dry mouth).

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