Autoimmune Hepatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease in which the body's immune system attacks
liver cells. This causes the liver to become inflamed (hepatitis). Researchers
think a genetic factor may predispose some people to autoimmune diseases. About
70 percent of those with autoimmune hepatitis are women, most between the ages
of 15 and 40.

The disease is usually quite serious and, if not treated, gets worse over time.
It's usually chronic, meaning it can last for years, and can lead to cirrhosis
(scarring and hardening) of the liver and eventually liver failure.

Autoimmune hepatitis is classified as either type I or II. Type I is the most
common form in North America. It occurs at any age and is more common among
women than men. About half of those with type I have other autoimmune disorders,
such as type 1 diabetes, proliferative glomerulonephritis, thyroiditis, Graves'
disease, Sjögren's syndrome, autoimmune anemia, and ulcerative colitis. Type II
autoimmune hepatitis is less common, typically affecting girls ages 2 to 14,
although adults can have it too.

Autoimmune Disease

One job of the immune system is to protect the body from viruses, bacteria, and
other living organisms. Usually, the immune system does not react against the
body's own cells. However, sometimes it mistakenly attacks the cells it is
supposed to protect. This response is called autoimmunity. Researchers speculate
that certain bacteria, viruses, toxins, and drugs trigger an autoimmune response
in people who are genetically susceptible to developing an autoimmune disorder.

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Symptoms
Fatigue is probably the most common symptom of autoimmune hepatitis. Other
symptoms include

enlarged liver


jaundice


itching


skin rashes


joint pain


abdominal discomfort


fatigue

spider angiomas (abnormal blood vessels) on the skin


nausea


vomiting


loss of appetite


dark urine


pale or gray colored stools

People in advanced stages of the disease are more likely to have symptoms such
as fluid in the abdomen (ascites) or mental confusion. Women may stop having
menstrual periods.

Symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis range from mild to severe. Because severe viral
hepatitis or hepatitis caused by a drug--for example, certain antibiotics--has
the same symptoms, tests may be needed for an exact diagnosis. Your doctor
should also review and rule out all your medicines before diagnosing autoimmune
hepatitis.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will make a diagnosis based on your symptoms, blood tests, and liver
biopsy.

Blood tests. A routine blood test for liver enzymes can help reveal a pattern
typical of hepatitis, but further tests, especially for autoantibodies, are
needed to diagnose autoimmune hepatitis. Antibodies are proteins made by the
immune system to fight off bacteria and viruses. In autoimmune hepatitis, the
immune system makes antinuclear antibodies (ANA), antibodies against smooth
muscle cells (SMA), or liver and kidney microsomes (anti-LKM). The pattern and
level of these antibodies help define the type of autoimmune hepatitis (type I
or type II).

Blood tests also help distinguish autoimmune hepatitis from viral hepatitis
(such as hepatitis B or C) or a metabolic disease (such as Wilson's disease).


Liver biopsy. A tiny sample of your liver tissue, examined under a
microscope, can help your doctor accurately diagnose autoimmune hepatitis and
tell how serious it is. You will go to a hospital or outpatient surgical
facility for this procedure.

Treatment

Treatment works best when autoimmune hepatitis is diagnosed early. With proper
treatment, autoimmune hepatitis can usually be controlled. In fact, recent
studies show that sustained response to treatment not only stops the disease
from getting worse, but also may actually reverse some of the damage.

The primary treatment is medicine to suppress (slow down) an overactive immune
system.

Both types of autoimmune hepatitis are treated with daily doses of a
corticosteroid called prednisone. Your doctor may start you on a high dose (20
to 60 mg per day) and lower the dose to 5 to 15 mg/day as the disease is
controlled. The goal is to find the lowest possible dose that will control your
disease.

Another medicine, azathioprine (Imuran) is also used to treat autoimmune
hepatitis. Like prednisone, azathioprine suppresses the immune system, but in a
different way. It helps lower the dose of prednisone needed, thereby reducing
its side effects. Your doctor may prescribe azathioprine, in addition to
prednisone, once your disease is under control.

Most people will need to take prednisone, with or without azathioprine, for
years. Some people take it for life. Corticosteroids may slow down the disease,
but everyone is different. In about one out of every three people, treatment can
eventually be stopped. After stopping, it is important to carefully monitor your
condition and promptly report any new symptoms to your doctor because the
disease may return and be even more severe, especially during the first few
months after stopping treatment.

In about 7 out of 10 people, the disease goes into remission, with a lessening
of severity of symptoms, within 2 years of starting treatment. A portion of
persons with a remission will see the disease return within 3 years, so
treatment may be necessary on and off for years, if not for life.

Side Effects

Both prednisone and azathioprine have side effects. Because high doses of
prednisone are needed to control autoimmune hepatitis, managing side effects is
very important. However, most side effects appear only after a long period of
time.

Some possible side effects of prednisone are

weight gain


anxiety and confusion


thinning of the bones (osteoporosis)


thinning of the hair and skin


diabetes


high blood pressure


cataracts


glaucoma

Azathioprine can lower your white blood cell count and sometimes causes nausea
and poor appetite. Rare side effects are allergic reaction, liver damage, and
pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas gland with severe stomach pain).
Other Treatments
People who do not respond to standard immune therapy or who have severe side
effects may benefit from other immunosuppressive agents like mycophenylate
mofetil, cyclosporine or tacrolimus. People who progress to end stage liver
disease (liver failure) and/or cirrhosis may need a liver transplant.
Transplantation has a 1-year survival rate of 90 percent and a 5-year survival
rate of 70 to 80 percent.
Hope Through Research
Scientists are studying various aspects of autoimmune hepatitis to find out who
gets it and why and to discover better ways to treat it. Basic research on the
immune system will expand knowledge of autoimmune diseases in general.
Epidemiologic research will help doctors understand what triggers autoimmune
hepatitis in some people. Research on different steroids, alternatives to
steroids, and other immunosuppressants will eventually lead to more effective
treatments.

Points to Remember

Autoimmune hepatitis is a long-term disease in which your body's immune
system attacks liver cells.


The disease is diagnosed using various blood tests and a liver biopsy.


With proper treatment, autoimmune hepatitis can usually be controlled. The
main treatment is medicine that suppresses the body's overactive immune system.




Sandra Tara Balduf (Ane)

Frontline Hepatitis Awareness

Support for patients and educational materials

http://frontline-hepatitis-awareness.com

1-866-Hep-GoGo 866-437-4646




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