Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic liver condition where your immune system attacks healthy liver cells. This immune response causes inflammation that can damage the liver over time. It can cause scarring of the liver that can lead to liver failure or other serious liver disease if it’s not treated.
Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare disease. Although there’s no cure, getting diagnosed and starting treatment early may help keep your symptoms under control. You can live a long, healthy life with this condition.
Autoimmune hepatitis is not caused by a virus, alcohol or toxins. It is different from other forms of hepatitis such as hepatitis A, B or C.
Learn more about other types of hepatitis.
It’s not clear exactly what causes autoimmune hepatitis but it involves an abnormal immune system response. Your own immune system mistakenly attacks your liver cells as if they were germs or viruses.
Risk factors may include:
Having these risk factors doesn’t mean you will develop autoimmune hepatitis. But they may increase your chances of getting the condition.
The symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis can vary. They may happen slowly or appear suddenly.
Symptoms can be mild at first and are sometimes mistaken for other conditions. Some people have no symptoms early on and are diagnosed with liver blood tests.
Common symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis include:
If you notice these symptoms, especially if they are new or getting worse or if you have abnormal liver tests, talk with your health care provider.
Symptoms of more advanced disease may include:
In some people, symptoms appear suddenly. They may include signs of acute liver failure, such as:
You should get emergency care for these symptoms.
To diagnose autoimmune hepatitis, your health care provider will rule out other things that could be causing liver inflammation.
Tests may include:
These tests help confirm the diagnosis and show how much liver damage there is.
Your provider may diagnose a certain type of autoimmune hepatitis based on your age and blood tests but treatment is similar for the different types.
Many people can manage autoimmune hepatitis effectively with ongoing treatment and follow-up care.
Most of the time, autoimmune hepatitis is treated with corticosteroids or other medications that suppress the immune system and lower liver inflammation. Treatment may start with a high dose of steroids to calm inflammation, sometimes combined with other medicines. Medications are then reduced to the lowest dose that keeps the disease in remission.
Your treatment plan may also include:
You may need long-term or lifelong treatment. Your care team will work with you to find the treatment that best controls the disease and manages any medication side effects. The goal is to protect your liver and prevent complications.
If medicines do not work or your liver gets severely scarred, your care team may recommend liver transplant.
Early diagnosis and consistent treatment greatly reduce the risk of advanced liver disease and serious, life-threatening complications. Without treatment, autoimmune hepatitis can lead to:
Your provider may refer you to a gastroenterologist (digestive system specialist) or hepatologist (liver specialist) if:
Specialist care is important for managing your medications and monitoring your liver health.
Banner Health provides expert care for autoimmune hepatitis and other types of complex liver disease. Our specialists work closely together to help you manage inflammation, protect your liver function and stay as healthy as possible. We coordinate care if you need advanced treatments, including evaluation for liver transplant.
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