autoimmune hepatitis

Question 1

what is the cause?

Answer 1

not known, but thought it could be T cell mediated post viral

Question 2

how many types autoimmune hepatitis are there and who does it affect?

Answer 2

Type 1: occurs in adults: women in their 50s and has less of a n acute course than type 2

Type 2: occurs in children: patients in their teenage or early twenties present with acute hepatitis with high transaminases and jaundice.

Question 3

what are the autoantibodies involved in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis?

Answer 3

Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA)
Anti-smooth muscle antibodies (anti-actin)
Anti-soluble liver antigen (anti-SLA/LP)

Question 4

what are the antibodies involved in type 2 autoimmune hepatitis?

Answer 4

Anti-liver kidney microsomes-1 (anti-LKM1)

Anti-liver cytosol antigen type 1 (anti-LC1)

Question 5

how is autoimmune hepatitis confirmed?

Answer 5

liver biopsy

Question 6

what is the treatment for autoimmune hepatitis?

Answer 6

• Treatment is with high dose steroids (prednisolone) that are tapered over time as other immunosuppressants, particularly azathioprine, are introduced.
• Immunosuppressant treatment is usually successful in inducing remission however it is usually required life long.
• Liver transplant may be required in end stage liver disease, however the autoimmune hepatitis can recur in transplanted livers.