What is Autoimmune Hepatitis?
Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic inflammation of the liver that occurs when the body's own immune system attacks the liver. It is a type of chronic liver disease with no known cause.
Symptoms of Autoimmune Hepatitis
Although autoimmune hepatitis is a serious condition, the early symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis are often initially mistaken for flu symptoms. As the disease progresses, the severity and degree of symptoms will also progress. If left untreated, autoimmune hepatitis can ultimately result in liver failure. Learn more about autoimmune hepatitis symptoms.
Who Does Autoimmune Hepatitis Affect?
The immune system protects the body from disease and infection. An autoimmune disease occurs when the body's immune system starts attacking healthy cells. As with most autoimmune disorders, autoimmune hepatitis occurs more commonly in females than it does in males.
Treatment for Autoimmune Hepatitis
The goal of treatment for autoimmune hepatitis is to drive the disease into remission (complete or partial absence of symptoms). We do this by suppressing the body's overactive immune system so the body will stop attacking its own liver.
Autoimmune hepatitis may resolve without treatment in some individuals, but, for the majority of individuals, it is chronic. If left untreated, it can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. Read more about autoimmune hepatitis treatment.