Viruses cause most types of hepatitis. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is one exception. This type of liver disease occurs when your immune system attacks your liver cells. AIH is a chronic condition and can result in cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver and (ultimately) liver failure.
AIH occurs when your immune system mistakes your liver cells for foreign aggressors and creates antibodies to attack them. Doctors do not know precisely why this occurs. However, certain risk factors have been identified, including:
- a family history of AIH
- being female
- a history of bacterial or viral infections
- the use of certain medications, such as minocycline
Other autoimmune conditions can cause symptoms of liver disease and are also associated with the development of AIH. These diseases include:
There are two types of AIH:
Type I is more common, tends to affect young women, and is associated with other autoimmune diseases. This is the most common form of AIH in North America.
Type II primarily affects girls between the ages of two and 14.
While AIH generally occurs in adolescence or early adulthood, it can develop at any age.
Symptoms of AIH range from mild to severe. In the early stages, you may have no symptoms, but in later stages, symptoms can appear suddenly. They may also slowly develop over time.
AIH symptoms include:
- enlarged liver (hepatomegaly)
- abnormal blood vessels on the skin (spider angiomas)
- abdominal distention (swelling)
- dark urine
- pale-colored stools
Additional symptoms that may occur include:
- yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- itching caused by a build-up of toxins and bile
- loss of appetite
- joint pain
- abdominal discomfort
AIH can be easily confused with other illnesses. Symptoms are very similar to those of viral hepatitis. To make a proper diagnosis, blood testing is required to:
- rule out viral hepatitis
- determine the type of AIH you have
- check your liver function
Blood tests are also used to measure the levels of specific antibodies in your blood. Antibodies associated with AIH include:
- anti-smooth muscle antibody
- anti-liver kidney microsome type I antibody
- anti-nuclear antibody
Blood tests can also measure the amount of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in your blood. IgG antibodies help the body fight infection and inflammation.
A liver biopsy may sometimes be necessary to diagnose AIH, and can reveal the type and severity of your liver damage and inflammation. A biopsy will involve removing a small piece of your liver tissue with a long needle and sending it to a laboratory for testing.
Treatment can slow down, stop, and sometimes reverse liver damage. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, 70 percent of AIH patients will go into remission. However, remission can take up to three years (NDDIC, 2012).
Drugs and Medication
Immunosuppressant drugs can be used to stop the immune system’s attack. Such drugs include 6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine. Taking immunosuppressant drugs may compromise your body’s ability to fight other infections.
Corticosteroids, usually in the form of prednisone, can directly treat liver inflammation. They can also serve as immunosuppressants. You will likely need to take prednisone for a minimum of 18-24 months. Some patients must continue taking the drug for life to prevent AIH from recurring. Prednisone may cause serious side effects, including diabetes, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and weight gain.
A liver transplant (replacing your liver with a donor organ) can treat AIH. However, the disease can sometimes recur even after a transplant. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), there is a 90 percent one-year survival rate for patients who have a transplant. The five-year survival rate is 70 to 80 percent.