Autoimmune hepatitis

More frequently affects women and has a variable course with different clinical manifestations, ranging from no symptoms to fulminant hepatic failure.

Concurrent autoimmune diseases are often present.

Aminotransferase levels are usually more strikingly elevated than bilirubin and gamma-GT levels.

Characterized by the presence of circulating autoantibodies (antinuclear antibody, smooth muscle antibody, perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody, antisoluble liver antigen/liver pancreas, antiliver kidney microsomal-1, antiliver cytosol) with a high serum globulin concentration and inflammatory changes on liver histology.

Treatment options include corticosteroids alone or in combination with other immunosuppressants.

Liver transplantation is indicated in patients with advanced liver disease who are refractory or intolerant to corticosteroid therapy.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the liver of unknown etiology. It is characterized by the presence of circulating autoantibodies with a high serum globulin concentration, inflammatory changes on liver histology, and a favorable response to immunosuppressive treatment.[1]Manns MP, Czaja AJ, Gorham JD, et al. Diagnosis and management of autoimmune hepatitis. Hepatology. 2010;51:2193-2213. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hep.23584/full http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20513004?tool=bestpractice.com