Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic condition that happens when your bodys immune system attacks your liver.
Theliveris a major organ located on the right side of your abdomen.
It helps you digest food and filter waste from the body.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
What Is an Autoimmune Disease?
An autoimmune disease causes your immune system to attack healthy cells in your body by mistake.
It can affect different parts of your body.
There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases.
Types of Autoimmune Hepatitis
There are two types of autoimmune hepatitis.
They are:
Autoimmune Hepatitis Symptoms
Autoimmune hepatitis symptoms vary from person to person.
You may first notice a feeling of extreme tiredness orfatigue.
Other common symptoms include:
Autoimmune hepatitis causes your liver to become enlarged.
About 70% of those diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis are women ages 1540.
Autoimmune hepatitis can also be triggered by prescription drugs.
The steroid prednisone is usually prescribed to suppress the immune systems response and protect the liver.
Your doctor may also recommend a second medication called Imuran (azathioprine).
Autoimmune hepatitis can be controlled but not cured.
Treatment may include years of steroid use.
It is possible that you may require medication for the rest of your life.
Prognosis
Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic condition that may require lifelong treatment.
It is possible to go into remission from autoimmune hepatitis.
It is possible for some individuals to discontinue their steroid medication.
However, most people require lifelong treatment.
Some people can stop taking their medicine, but often the disease comes back.
Some people need to remain on treatment if they have relapsed many times or if their disease is severe.
In some cases, autoimmune hepatitis may go away without taking any medicine.
But for most people, autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic disease.
If steroid therapy is not effective for you, it is possible for autoimmune hepatitis to progress to cirrhosis.
For individuals who respond positively to steroid treatment, the 10-year survival rate is 83.8%94%.
Studies have shown that not following your treatment plan is associated with a lower quality of life.
Ask questions at your medical appointments to see to it you understand your treatment plan.
An in-person support group or online support community may be helpful as well.
Summary
Autoimmune hepatitis takes place if your immune system attacks healthy liver cells by mistake.
People with an autoimmune disease may be more likely to develop autoimmune hepatitis.
Certain medications can contribute to the condition as well.
It is helpful to remember that early diagnosis and treatment are important to achieving a good prognosis.
If you have noticed symptoms such as fatigue or yellowing skin, see your doctor right away.
Your medical team will likely recommend blood tests and a liver biopsy to diagnose the condition.
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, they will then discuss steroid therapy for treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is it like to live with autoimmune hepatitis?
Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic condition that may require treatment for the rest of your life.
Most individuals who are treated for autoimmune hepatitis have a good prognosis and do not experience additional complications.
Who is at risk of getting autoimmune hepatitis?
Women are at higher risk for autoimmune hepatitis than men.
Do patients recover from autoimmune hepatitis treatment?
It is possible to achieve remission from autoimmune hepatitis with the use of steroids.
However, most individuals will require treatment for the rest of their lives.
The 10-year survival rate for people being treated for autoimmune hepatitis is between 83.8%94%.
Without treatment, the survival rate falls to 50%60%.
What do researchers know about what causes autoimmune hepatitis?
Autoimmune hepatitis is believed to be resulting from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
The condition can be triggered by an environmental factor when you are already genetically predisposed to it.
The genesHLA DRB103andHLA DRB104have both been linked to an increased risk of autoimmune hepatitis.
Autoimmune hepatitis can also be triggered by certain medications or other diseases.
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