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Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) is a rare long-term inflammation of the liver, which occurs when your body's immune system turns against liver cells and causes severe liver cell damage and ends up with cirrhosis. The exact cause of autoimmune hepatitis is unclear, but genetic and environmental factors appear to interact over time in triggering the disease. It is a chronic condition that can result in cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, leading to liver failure.
AIH happens when your insusceptible framework confuses your liver cells with unfamiliar aggressors and makes antibodies assault them. Certain factors could be:
Some people are asymptomatic, while others may experience initial symptoms like:
If not diagnosed and treated timely, it can develop significant liver damage, complications of liver cirrhosis and liver failure.
AIH can be effortlessly mistaken for different ailments as the symptoms overlap with those of viral hepatitis. To make an appropriate analysis, different blood tests and liver biopsy to determine the type of AIH you have and/or rule out viral hepatitis. Tests and procedures used:
Those with AIH are usually started on corticosteroids which also serve as immunosuppressants or aggressive steroid regimens to directly treat liver inflammation. The initial treatment is usually prednisone used as induction therapy along with a second medication, azathioprine for long term maintenance. Treatment can slow down, stop, and sometimes reverse liver damage. A liver transplant is needed if a patient presents with liver failure. Timely therapy can save patients from complications and would do well in the long term.
(The article is contributed by Dr Prasanna K S, Consultant -Hepatology, Transplant physician Fortis Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road)