Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune Hepatitis: Introduction

Autoimmune Hepatitis: Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease in which the body's immune system attacks liver cells. This causes the liver to become inflamed (hepatitis) ... more about Autoimmune Hepatitis.

Autoimmune Hepatitis: Liver inflammation caused due to autoimmune processes where the body's immune system attacks the liver. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Autoimmune Hepatitis is available below.

Symptoms of Autoimmune Hepatitis

• Fatigue
• Enlarged liver
• Jaundice
• Itching
• Skin rash
• more symptoms...»

See full list of 24 symptoms of Autoimmune Hepatitis

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Autoimmune Hepatitis:

• Liver Health & Hepatitis: Home Testing
  • Home Hepatitis Tests
  • Home Liver Tests
  • Sexually Transmitted Disease Tests
• more tests...»

Autoimmune Hepatitis: Complications

Review possible medical complications related to Autoimmune Hepatitis:

• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Liver failure
• Jaundice
• Cirrhosis of liver
• more complications...»

Medical Textbooks Online about Autoimmune Hepatitis

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Autoimmune Hepatitis

• Physical exam
• Liver function tests
• Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) test
• Smooth muscle cells (SMA) antibodies
• Liver/kidney microsomes (anti-LKM)
• more tests...»

See full list of 6 diagnostic tests for Autoimmune Hepatitis

Wrongly Diagnosed with Autoimmune Hepatitis?

• Misdiagnosis of Autoimmune Hepatitis
• Failure to diagnose Autoimmune Hepatitis
• Hidden causes of Autoimmune Hepatitis (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Undiagnosed: Autoimmune Hepatitis

Misdiagnosis and Autoimmune Hepatitis

Chronic liver disease often undiagnosed: One study reported that 50% of patients with a chronic liver disease remain undiagnosed by their primary physician. The reasons are multifactorial. Possible conditions include chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, hemochromatosis, or other types of liver condition. See introduction to liver disease or misdiagnosis of liver disease....read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune Hepatitis: Research Doctors & Specialists

Research related physicians and medical specialists:

• Immune-Related Disease Specialists (Immunology):
  • Allergy & Immunology (Allergies & Immune Diseases)
  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (Child Allergies & Immune Diseases)
  • Immunopathology
  • Dermatological Immunology / Diagnostic Laboratory
  • Clinical & Laboratory Immunology
• Liver Health Specialists (Hepatology):
  • Transplant Hepatology (Liver Transplant Specialist)
• more specialists...»

Other doctor, physician and specialist research services:

• Rate Your Doctor Online
• Research Your Doctor Online
• Review Patient Surveys About Your Doctor
• Research local specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

Causes of Autoimmune Hepatitis

• Anomalous presentation of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II on the surface of hepatocytes, possibly due to genetic predisposition or acute liver infection; causes a cell-mediated immune response against the body's own liver
• more causes...»

Read more about causes of Autoimmune Hepatitis

More information about causes of Autoimmune Hepatitis:

• Underlying causes of Autoimmune Hepatitis
• Autoimmune Hepatitis as a complication caused by other conditions
• Autoimmune Hepatitis as a symptom

Treatments for Autoimmune Hepatitis

• Prednisone
• Azathioprine (Imuran)
• Cyclosporine
• Tacrolimus
• Liver transplant - if liver failure occurs
• more treatments...»

See full list of 6 treatments for Autoimmune Hepatitis

News Archives for Autoimmune Hepatitis

Medical news articles related to Autoimmune Hepatitis include:

• Genetic Links to Rare Liver Disease Found
• Men Who Get Active in Midlife Live Longer
• More Than 60,000 Patients Risked Hepatitis Infections
• New Criteria Could Expand Number of Liver Transplant Candidates
• New Imaging Identifies Types of Liver Disease
• Red Wine Compound May Slow Drinking-Linked Liver Condition
• New Technique Activates Brain Neurons to Move Paralyzed Limb
• more health news...»

Source: HealthDay News

Evidence Based Medicine Research for Autoimmune Hepatitis

Medical research articles related to Autoimmune Hepatitis include:

• Gene therapy for immunodeficiency due to adenosine deaminase deficiency.
• Is there any guidance on the management of an asymptomatic patient with positive antimitochondrial antibodies?
• For women who have autoimmune hepatitis who are using tacrolimus azathioprine and prednisolone can she safely use progestogen-only pills?
• What is the significance of positive antinuclear antibody?
• Diagnosis and treatment of Wilson disease: an update.
• Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome, Type II
• Celiac Disease
• Cirrhosis
• more research...»

Click here to find more evidence-based articles on the TRIP Database

Videos for Autoimmune Hepatitis

Patient Surveys for Autoimmune Hepatitis

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Autoimmune Hepatitis
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for Autoimmune Hepatitis

Prognosis for Autoimmune Hepatitis: In about 7 out of 10 people, the disease goes into remission, with a lessening of severity of symptoms, within 2 years of starting treatment. A portion of persons with a remission will see the disease return within 3 years, so treatment may be necessary on and off for years, if not for life. (Source: excerpt from Autoimmune Hepatitis: NIDDK)

More about prognosis of Autoimmune Hepatitis

Reseach about Autoimmune Hepatitis

Visit our research pages for current research about Autoimmune Hepatitis treatments.

Clinical Trials for Autoimmune Hepatitis

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Autoimmune Hepatitis include:

• Autoimmune Hepatitis Study - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Differential Gene Expression of Liver Tissue and Blood From Individuals With Chronic Viral Hepatitis - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• more trials...»

Read more about Clinical Trials for Autoimmune Hepatitis

Statistics for Autoimmune Hepatitis

• Medical statistics for Autoimmune Hepatitis
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Autoimmune Hepatitis
• Death and Mortality statistics for Autoimmune Hepatitis
• Society statistics for Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune Hepatitis: Broader Related Topics

• Autoimmune diseases
• Liver conditions
• Hepatitis
• more types...»

Types of Autoimmune Hepatitis

Types of Autoimmune Hepatitis

• Type I Autoimmune Hepatitis - most common in USA, usually associated with other autoimmune diseases
• Type II Autoimmune Hepatitis - typically girls aged 2-14
• more types...»

Read more about Types of Autoimmune Hepatitis

Stories from Users Related to Autoimmune Hepatitis

• Cirhossis of the Liver My Mom is 87
• Autoimmune Hepatitis
• Sarcoidosis In Liver
• 7mos of tests & no diagnosis---Liver "lesion"
• Is this hepatitis?
• what's causing seizure activity?
• Liver? Sinusitis?
• Liver Lesion
• Liver disease symptoms
• Is this liver disease?
• Alpha1 Liver Def -- Is this hindering me from conceiving?
• Menopause and seizure activity?
• hepatic calcification on liver
• Knot in abdomen that pulsates! HELP!? Liver?/ Tumer?/ Ulcer?/ what!?
• Overworked liver 4 times norm rate
• Possible liver disease?
• liver symptoms
• Itching from liver Disease
• Help my daughter...she's nine and having seizure like activity..but NOT seizures!
• liver

Related forums and medical stories:

• Liver Conditions (126)
  • Can Anyone Help Me With Advanced Cirrhosis Of The Liver
  • last stage liver failure
  • Gall Bladder scan showed Fatty Liver...what does this mean?
  • The final stage of liver cirrhosis
  • Liver function blood test question
  • More user stories
• Autoimmune Diseases (86)
  • autoimmune disease
  • Feeling Worse after 3yrs Levo: What is causing Hashimoto's?
  • ANA testing???
  • backspasm, neck, shoulder, buttock aches >ankylosing spondylitis
  • optic neuritis link with autoimmune disease
  • More user stories

User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Autoimmune Hepatitis, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease in which the body's immune system attacks liver cells. This causes the liver to become inflamed (hepatitis). Researchers think a genetic factor may predispose some people to autoimmune diseases. About 70 percent of those with autoimmune hepatitis are women, most between the ages of 15 and 40.

The disease is usually quite serious and, if not treated, gets worse over time. It's usually chronic, meaning it can last for years, and can lead to cirrhosis (scarring and hardening) of the liver and eventually liver failure. (Source: excerpt from Autoimmune Hepatitis: NIDDK)

Definitions of Autoimmune Hepatitis:

A chronic self-perpetuating hepatocellular INFLAMMATION of unknown cause, usually with HYPERGAMMAGLOBULINEMIA and serum AUTOANTIBODIES. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Autoimmune Hepatitis is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Autoimmune Hepatitis, or a subtype of Autoimmune Hepatitis, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)