Autoimmune hepatitis

Alternative names:

lupoid hepatitis

Definition:

An inflammation of the liver caused by interaction with the immune system.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Autoimmune hepatitis is a type of chronic active hepatitis. Cellular immune reactions may be a cause of chronic active hepatitis. A variety of circulating autoantibodies can be found in the blood of patients with chronic active hepatitis. Other autoimmune diseases may be associated with chronic active hepatitis, or may occur in the relatives of patients with chronic active hepatitis. These diseases are thyroiditis, diabetes mellitus, ulcerative colitis, Coombs-positive hemolytic anemia, proliferative glomerulonephritis, and Sjogren's syndrome. Risk factors may include these diseases, or risk factors associated with chronic active hepatitis. The incidence is 4 out of 10,000 people. This disease is rare in children.