BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuAutoimmune hepatitisLupoid hepatitis; Chronic active hepatitisAutoimmune hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver. It occurs when immune cells mistake the liver's normal cells for harmful invaders and attack them. Causes 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.Autoimmune diseaseAn autoimmune disorder occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake. There are more than 80 autoimmune d...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver inflammation, or hepatitis, may occur along with other autoimmune diseases. These include:Graves disease Graves diseaseGraves disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Inflammatory bowel disease Inflammatory bowel diseaseUlcerative colitis is a condition in which the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum become inflamed. It is a form of inflammatory bowel ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritisRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It is a long-term disease. It can also aff...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Scleroderma SclerodermaScleroderma is a disease that involves the buildup of fibrous tissue in the skin and elsewhere in the body. It also damages the cells that line the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sjögren syndrome Sjögren syndromeSjögren syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which the glands that produce tears and saliva are destroyed. This causes dry mouth and dry eyes. The...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic lupus erythematosusSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Thyroiditis ThyroiditisChronic thyroiditis is caused by a reaction of the immune system against the thyroid gland. It often results in reduced thyroid function (hypothyroi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Type 1 diabetes Type 1 diabetesType 1 diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there is a high level of sugar (glucose) in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ulcerative colitisUlcerative colitisUlcerative colitis is a condition in which the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum become inflamed. It is a form of inflammatory bowel ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article 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 Symptoms may include:Fatigue FatigueFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise) MalaiseMalaise is a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or lack of well-being.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Itching ItchingItching is a tingling or irritation of the skin that makes you want to scratch the area. Itching may occur all over the body or only in one location...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Loss of appetite Loss of appetiteA decreased appetite is when your desire to eat is reduced. The medical term for a loss of appetite is anorexia.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Nausea or vomiting Joint pain Pale or clay-colored stools Pale or clay-colored stoolsStools that are pale, clay, or putty-colored may be due to problems in the biliary system. The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallblad...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dark urine Dark urineBlood in your urine is called hematuria. The amount may be very small and only detected with urine tests or under a microscope. In other cases, the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Abdominal distentionAbdominal distentionA swollen abdomen is when your belly area is bigger than usual.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Absence of menstruation (amenorrhea) may also be a symptom. Exams and Tests Tests for autoimmune hepatitis include the following blood tests:Liver function tests Anti-liver kidney microsome type 1 antibody (anti LKM-1) Microsome type 1 antibodyThyroid peroxidase is a type of protein (called an enzyme) that cells in the thyroid gland use to make thyroid hormone. If these enzymes leak out in...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) ANAThe antinuclear antibody panel is a blood test that looks at antinuclear antibodies (ANA). ANA are antibodies produced by the immune system that bind...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Anti-smooth muscle antibody (SMA) Serum IgG Liver biopsy to look for long-term hepatitis Treatment 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. Outlook (Prognosis) 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. Possible Complications Complications may include:Cirrhosis CirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Side effects from steroids and other medicines Hepatocellular carcinoma Hepatocellular carcinomaHepatocellular carcinoma is cancer that starts in the liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver failure Bleeding from varices Bleeding from varicesThe esophagus (food pipe) is the tube that connects your throat to your stomach. Varices are enlarged veins that may be found in the esophagus in pe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ascites AscitesAscites is the build-up of fluid in the space between the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatic encephalopathyHepatic encephalopathyLoss of brain function occurs when the liver is unable to remove toxins from the blood. This is called hepatic encephalopathy (HE). This problem ma...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you notice symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis. Prevention In most cases, autoimmune hepatitis cannot be prevented. Knowing the risk factors may help you detect and treat the disease early. Open ReferencesReferencesCzaja 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.AllVideoImagesTogDigestive system - illustration The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.Digestive systemillustrationDigestive system organs - illustration The digestive system organs in the abdominal cavity include the liver, gallbladder, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.Digestive system organsillustrationDigestive system - illustration The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.Digestive systemillustrationDigestive system organs - illustration The digestive system organs in the abdominal cavity include the liver, gallbladder, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.Digestive system organsillustrationSelf Care Preventing hepatitis B or C Tests for Autoimmune hepatitis Hepatitis virus panelAutoimmune liver disease panelRelated Information Mesenteric venous thrombosis(Condition)Autoimmune disorders(Condition)Chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto disease)(Condition)Type 1 diabetes(Condition)Ulcerative colitis(Condition)Hemolytic anemia(Condition)Glomerulonephritis(Condition)Cirrhosis(Condition)Liver cancer - hepatocellular carcinoma(Condition)Diabetes - type 1 - InDepth(In-Depth)Ulcerative colitis - InDepth(In-Depth)Cirrhosis - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 11/2/2022 Reviewed 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. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Autoimmune hepatitisLupoid hepatitis; Chronic active hepatitisAutoimmune hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver. It occurs when immune cells mistake the liver's normal cells for harmful invaders and attack them. Causes 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.Autoimmune diseaseAn autoimmune disorder occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake. There are more than 80 autoimmune d...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver inflammation, or hepatitis, may occur along with other autoimmune diseases. These include:Graves disease Graves diseaseGraves disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Inflammatory bowel disease Inflammatory bowel diseaseUlcerative colitis is a condition in which the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum become inflamed. It is a form of inflammatory bowel ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritisRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It is a long-term disease. It can also aff...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Scleroderma SclerodermaScleroderma is a disease that involves the buildup of fibrous tissue in the skin and elsewhere in the body. It also damages the cells that line the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sjögren syndrome Sjögren syndromeSjögren syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which the glands that produce tears and saliva are destroyed. This causes dry mouth and dry eyes. The...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic lupus erythematosusSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Thyroiditis ThyroiditisChronic thyroiditis is caused by a reaction of the immune system against the thyroid gland. It often results in reduced thyroid function (hypothyroi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Type 1 diabetes Type 1 diabetesType 1 diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there is a high level of sugar (glucose) in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ulcerative colitisUlcerative colitisUlcerative colitis is a condition in which the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum become inflamed. It is a form of inflammatory bowel ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article 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 Symptoms may include:Fatigue FatigueFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise) MalaiseMalaise is a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or lack of well-being.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Itching ItchingItching is a tingling or irritation of the skin that makes you want to scratch the area. Itching may occur all over the body or only in one location...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Loss of appetite Loss of appetiteA decreased appetite is when your desire to eat is reduced. The medical term for a loss of appetite is anorexia.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Nausea or vomiting Joint pain Pale or clay-colored stools Pale or clay-colored stoolsStools that are pale, clay, or putty-colored may be due to problems in the biliary system. The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallblad...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dark urine Dark urineBlood in your urine is called hematuria. The amount may be very small and only detected with urine tests or under a microscope. In other cases, the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Abdominal distentionAbdominal distentionA swollen abdomen is when your belly area is bigger than usual.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Absence of menstruation (amenorrhea) may also be a symptom. Exams and Tests Tests for autoimmune hepatitis include the following blood tests:Liver function tests Anti-liver kidney microsome type 1 antibody (anti LKM-1) Microsome type 1 antibodyThyroid peroxidase is a type of protein (called an enzyme) that cells in the thyroid gland use to make thyroid hormone. If these enzymes leak out in...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) ANAThe antinuclear antibody panel is a blood test that looks at antinuclear antibodies (ANA). ANA are antibodies produced by the immune system that bind...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Anti-smooth muscle antibody (SMA) Serum IgG Liver biopsy to look for long-term hepatitis Treatment 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. Outlook (Prognosis) 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. Possible Complications Complications may include:Cirrhosis CirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Side effects from steroids and other medicines Hepatocellular carcinoma Hepatocellular carcinomaHepatocellular carcinoma is cancer that starts in the liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver failure Bleeding from varices Bleeding from varicesThe esophagus (food pipe) is the tube that connects your throat to your stomach. Varices are enlarged veins that may be found in the esophagus in pe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ascites AscitesAscites is the build-up of fluid in the space between the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatic encephalopathyHepatic encephalopathyLoss of brain function occurs when the liver is unable to remove toxins from the blood. This is called hepatic encephalopathy (HE). This problem ma...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you notice symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis. Prevention In most cases, autoimmune hepatitis cannot be prevented. Knowing the risk factors may help you detect and treat the disease early. Open ReferencesReferencesCzaja 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.