What is autoimmune hepatitis?
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic liver disease that occurs when your body’s natural defense, called the immune system, attacks the liver and causes inflammation for unknown reasons. Over time, liver inflammation can lead to serious damage, including scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) and ultimately, liver failure.
There are two types of this disease:
- Type 1 (Classic): This is the most common form of autoimmune disease, primarily affecting young women who also have other autoimmune diseases.
- Type 2: This type is less common, typically affecting children under 14.
While it’s a lifelong condition, autoimmune hepatitis treatments can help manage it and potentially put it into remission. At MedStar Health, our liver disease experts are dedicated to caring for all types of hepatitis, including this rare but serious form. Our goal is to detect the condition early and provide the latest autoimmune hepatitis treatments to manage it before complications arise.
Autoimmune hepatitis symptoms
Symptoms vary by individual and can range from mild to severe. Early in the disease, many people don’t experience any symptoms. As it progresses, signs of the disease may include:
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Abdominal discomfort or swelling
- Itching
- Dark urine
It’s important to seek care if you do experience autoimmune hepatitis symptoms, as early treatment can help prevent damage to the liver and other complications.
Risk factors and causes
We don’t know what causes this condition, although certain risk factors linked to autoimmune hepatitis include:
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Being female
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Having other autoimmune disorders, such as thyroiditis, Grave’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes, Celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and others
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A family history of the disease
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Use of certain medications, including antibiotics such as nitrofurantoin, minicycline, and statins
Diagnosing autoimmune hepatitis
To diagnose autoimmune hepatitis, your healthcare provider will evaluate your physical health and ask you questions about your medical and family history. They’ll also want to know about any symptoms you’re experiencing and when they started. Next, they may order several blood tests to further evaluate your:
- Liver function tests in the blood
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Coagulation (how effective your blood clots)
- Autoimmune antibodies
They may also order imaging tests to take images of your liver and other organs to look for any complications of the disease and screen for cancer. Your provider will usually recommend a liver biopsy in which an interventional radiologist will use a small needle to remove a tiny piece of liver tissue for study under a microscope.
Autoimmune hepatitis treatment
The earlier we can find autoimmune hepatitis, the higher the chance of treatment success. Our goal is to slow down or suppress the immune system so it stops attacking the liver. We can often accomplish this with steroids and other immune suppressant drugs.
While the condition can be controlled, it currently cannot be cured. As a result, many patients continue taking medication for years to maintain remission.
If inflammation leads to scarring (cirrhosis) and ultimately, liver failure, liver transplant surgery may be a treatment option. We work closely with our nationally-recognized liver transplant team at MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute to ensure seamless, coordinated care, when transplant surgery is necessary.
Our providers
Location: Change location Enter your location
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Aaron Michael Fond, MD
Gastroenterology
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James H. Lewis, MD
Gastroenterology
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Raena S. Olsen, DO
Gastroenterology
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Jose Mari Deguia Parungao, MD
Gastroenterology
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Meggin A. Sabatino, DNP
Gastroenterology
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Abhinav Sankineni, MD
Gastroenterology
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Atul Rasiklal Shah, MD
Gastroenterology
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Konika Sharma, MD
Gastroenterology
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Danny T. Shearer, MD
Gastroenterology
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Ira Shocket, MD
Gastroenterology
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Jill P. Smith, MD
Gastroenterology
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Gary William Thompson, MD
Gastroenterology
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Richard B Williams, MD
Gastroenterology
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Angeline Kathlene Williams, AGACNP
Gastroenterology
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Marc Lyle Kozam, MD
Gastroenterology
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Joshua Aaron Rosenbloom, DO
Gastroenterology
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Frequently asked questions
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Is autoimmune hepatitis contagious?
No, autoimmune hepatitis is not a viral infection and cannot be spread from person to person. Other types of hepatitis, such as hepatitis A, B, and C, are caused by viruses and can be passed to others.
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Will I need a liver transplant?
Autoimmune hepatitis treatments vary depending on how much damage has occurred to the liver. Most patients being treated for the condition do not need a liver transplant, but it’s always best to talk to your healthcare provider about your specific condition and treatment options.