Autoimmune hepatitis, or AIH, is a disease that is caused by the body’s immune system attacking the cells in the liver. This autoimmune condition is lifelong and requires daily monitoring by those who have been diagnosed with it. There is no cure for this condition, but it can be managed through the use of various treatment modalities.
The symptoms of AIH can vary from patient to patient, and they can grow more numerous and severe over time. The most common symptoms are:
Doctors are still not entirely sure what causes autoimmune diseases. These conditions can be linked to genetics, but just because you have someone in your family with AIH does not mean that you will end up with the disease. Other people have no family history of the condition but seem to end up with the condition related to other medications they are taking or illnesses that they have contracted.
There are two kinds of AIH. These two types express the same symptoms but can impact different groups of patients.
Type 1: is the most common of this condition. Anyone of any age or gender can get this disease. However, patients who are female and between the ages of 15 and 40 are the most likely to get this disease.
Type 2: This form of AIH is most common in girls who are between 2 and 14 years of age.
Many people who contract this disease also have other autoimmune diseases like ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus. Other causes and risk factors for this condition are taking medications like statins or hydralazine for heart problems, extreme stress, or having viral infections like viral hepatitis, herpes, or Epstein-Barr syndrome.
To diagnose AIH, your doctor will take a full health history. They will need to know if you have had hepatitis and other viral conditions that are linked with AIH. They might take blood tests to look for antibodies for any related conditions or illnesses that you might have had. These blood tests will also indicate if you have liver damage or not.
A liver biopsy might also be ordered, which allows doctors to examine a small piece of your liver to see if the cells indicate that you have AIH.
Treatment involves regular testing for elevated liver values and staying in touch with your doctor if you experience any new symptoms related to your AIH. Most people with AIH will need courses of prednisone to help get inflammation in the body under control. Your doctor might also treat you with medications that reduce your immune response, such as Imuran or Purinethol.
Many people experience improvement in their condition after three years of treatment. Monitoring liver values and other health concerns will be necessary even for patients who are considered to be in remission. The condition can come back again if your body becomes stressed, such as with an illness or a change of life situation. In severe cases, a liver transplant might be the best option.
Prevention of AIH is not really possible. This is an autoimmune disease that can come on at any time, especially for those with other autoimmune diseases. The best methods of protecting your liver health are to avoid street drugs and to stop drinking and smoking.