Inflammation of the liver resulting from the immune system attacking liver cells. There are two types: Type 1 autoimmune hepatitis is the most common form, which is associated with other autoimmune diseases and can occur at any age. Type 2 autoimmune hepatitis is less common and affects younger children between the age of 2 and 14.
Fatigue, abdominal discomfort, jaundice, enlarged liver, spider angiomas (abnormal blood vessels on the skin), skin rashes, joint pains, light-colored stools, and loss of menstrual periods.
Primary biliary cirrhosis, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, antiphospholipid syndrome, and ulcerative colitis.
Autoimmune hepatitis is more common in females than males, and the type 2 form of the disease occurs predominantly in younger females. A history of other autoimmune diseases also increases the risk.
Autoimmune Hepatitis. (n.d.). NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). Retrieved July 12, 2021, from https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/autoimmune-hepatitis/
Guo, L., Zhou, L., Zhang, N., Deng, B., & Wang, B. (2017). Extrahepatic Autoimmune Diseases in Patients with Autoimmune Liver Diseases: A Phenomenon Neglected by Gastroenterologists. Gastroenterology Research and Practice, 2017, 2376231. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2376231
Guy, J., & Peters, M. G. (2013). Liver Disease in Women: The Influence of Gender on Epidemiology, Natural History, and Patient Outcomes. Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 9(10), 633–639. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3992057/
Lammert, C. (2019). Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors for Autoimmune Hepatitis. Clinical Liver Disease, 14(1), 29–32. https://doi.org/10.1002/cld.798
