Autoimmune Hepatitis Quiz

Characteristics of Autoimmune Hepatitis

• The main characteristic of autoimmune hepatitis is the immune system's attack on the liver cells, causing inflammation and damage.

Type 1 Autoimmune Hepatitis

• Type 1 autoimmune hepatitis is associated with antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMAs).

Prevalence and Distribution

• The prevalence of autoimmune hepatitis is unknown, but it has a bimodal distribution, affecting mainly young women in their teens and twenties, and women in their fifties and sixties.

Type 2 Autoimmune Hepatitis

• Type 2 autoimmune hepatitis is characterized by the presence of liver-kidney microsomal antibodies (LMK-1) and liver cytosol antibodies (LC-1).

Autoimmune Hepatitis in Children

• Type 1 autoimmune hepatitis is the most common type in children.

Associated Conditions

• Idiopathic autoimmune hepatitis is often associated with other autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, thyroiditis, and ulcerative colitis.

Symptoms and Signs

• Common nonspecific symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis include fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort.
• Signs that may indicate acute liver failure include jaundice, dark urine, and pale stools.

Laboratory Tests

• Laboratory test results typically elevated in autoimmune hepatitis include transaminases (ALT and AST), gamma-globulins, and IgG levels.

Diagnosis

• Liver biopsy should be performed to confirm the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis, especially if laboratory tests are inconclusive.

Treatment

• The first-line induction therapy for autoimmune hepatitis is corticosteroids, which can induce remission in 80% of patients.
• With treatment, the 10-year survival rate for autoimmune hepatitis is around 90%.