Autoimmune hepatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis is a liver disease that causes the liver to be inflamed. The condition arises when the body’s immune system attacks the liver cells, which causes the liver inflammation. An ignored or untreated condition causes damage to the liver which could be irreversible. An early diagnosis and treatment could help control the damage and prevent the organ loss.
Symptoms
Common initial symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Jaundice
- Rashes on skin
- Recurrent abortions
- Unintended weight loss
Causes
Autoimmune hepatitis could be caused by the interaction of genes controlling immune system function along with other external or environmental factors.
The condition is more common in females and in those who already have some autoimmune disease.
Treatment
Treatment may involve medication to stop the attack of body on the liver cells. It is achieved by prescription of glucocorticoids such as prednisone and azathioprine to suppress the immunity.
Medications may differ for conditions not showing response to glucocorticoids and azathioprine. Such conditions may involve administrating other immunosuppressive to the patients.
A liver transplantation may be required when patients do not respond to any medication and develop decompensated liver cirrhosis.