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Autoimmune Hepatitis

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Liver Immunology

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Abstract

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an inflammatory liver disease with a strong female preponderance, characterized by elevated levels of transaminases and immunoglobulin G (IgG), seropositivity for organ and non-organ-specific autoantibodies, and a histological picture of interface hepatitis. The major pathogenic mechanism is believed to be immune reaction against host liver antigens. AIH responds well to immuno-suppressive treatment. The diagnosis should be made as soon as possible because symptomatic AIH, if left untreated, progresses to liver failure requiring transplantation. The development of a panel of marker autoantibodies has allowed the subdivision of AIH in distinct types, type 1 (AIH-1) being positive for antinuclear (ANA) and/or anti-smooth muscle antibodies (SMA) and type 2 (AIH-2) being positive for anti-liver-kidney microsomal antibody type 1 (anti-LKM-1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Liver Studies, King’s College London School of Medicine at King’s College Hospital, London, UK

    Diego Vergani MD, PhD & Giorgina Mieli-Vergani MD, PhD

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  1. Diego Vergani MD, PhD
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  2. Giorgina Mieli-Vergani MD, PhD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA

    M. Eric Gershwin MD, FACP

  2. Departments of Medicine and Surgery Baylor Liver Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

    John M. Vierling MD, FACP

  3. Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endocrinology, Medical School of Hannover, Hannover, Germany

    Michael P. Manns MD

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© 2007 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Vergani, D., Mieli-Vergani, G. (2007). Autoimmune Hepatitis. In: Gershwin, M.E., Vierling, J.M., Manns, M.P. (eds) Liver Immunology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-518-3_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-518-3_21

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

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