Thursday, February, 09, 2012

Autoimmune hepatitis

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Lupoid hepatitis; Chronic acute liver disease


Treatment

Prednisone or other corticosteroid medications help reduce the inflammation. Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine are drugs used to treat other autoimmune disorders. They have been shown to help patients with autoimmune hepatitis, as well.

Some patients may receive a liver transplant.


Support Groups


Expectations (prognosis)

The outcome varies. Corticosteroid therapy may slow the disease progression. However, autoimmune hepatitis may worsen to cirrhosis and require a liver transplant.


Complications
  • Cirrhosis
  • Complications related to steroids and other medications
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Liver failure

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you notice symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis.



Review Date: 11/23/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)