Autoimmune Hepatitis READ BX rec

[Guest guest]

What is Autoimmune Hepatitis?

The immune system consists of different types of white blood cells that

help to fight infections. Some of these cells produce antibodies.

Antibodies act as warriors. They defend the body by destroying bacteria,

viruses and other foreign materials. There are different kinds of

antibodies, each fighting against a specific foreign substance. Thus, the

immune system protects the body against outside invasion by germs. But

sometimes, the immune system mistakenly recognizes the body's own organs

as foreign. It can develop antibodies against these organs. This can cause

various illnesses, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. These illnesses

are called autoimmune disorders because the body is literally fighting

against itself.

When the immune system attacks the liver in this way, it is called

autoimmune hepatitis. Autoimmune hepatitis is not caused by a virus or

bacteria, so it is not a contagious disease. Exactly what triggers the

immune system against the liver is unknown. The inflammation is usually

chronic, and without treatment it can cause serious injury to the liver.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Autoimmune hepatitis occurs mainly in adolescent or young adult women

(about 70% of the time). However, there have also been cases of older

women and men developing the disease. Early symptoms are the same as those

for most types of hepatitis: fatigue, abdominal discomfort, and aching

joints. These early symptoms are sometimes mild and mistaken for other

illnesses, such as the flu. So, it is wise for people with these symptoms

to consult a physician. When autoimmune hepatitis progresses to severe

cirrhosis, there may be jaundice (yellow coloring to the skin and eyes),

marked swelling of the abdomen from fluid inside the abdomen, intestinal

bleeding, or mental confusion.

The physician often suspects autoimmune hepatitis from the patient's

medical history. For example, patients with other autoimmune diseases --

thyroiditis, ulcerative colitis, diabetes mellitus, vitiligo (a patchy

loss of pigment in the skin), Sjogren's syndrome (a condition causing dry

eyes and mouth) -- are more likely to have autoimmune hepatitis. A

definite diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis is obtained with blood testing.

Two antibodies that may develop in the blood are the ANA (antinuclear

antibody) and the SMA (smooth muscle antibody). Also, a certain type of

blood protein called gamma globulin is frequently elevated. A liver biopsy

is always needed to determine how much inflammation and scarring has

developed. This exam is performed under local anesthesia. A slender needle

is inserted through the right lower chest to extract a small piece of

liver tissue. The tissue is then examined under a microscope. This

information allows the physician to tailor the treatment to each

individual patient.

Treatment

The treatment of autoimmune hepatitis is aimed at curbing the autoimmune

response, and therefore the damage to liver cells. It is most effective

when begun at an early stage of the disease. In most cases, the initial

treatment is with a cortisone drug, usually prednisone (trade names:

Deltasone, Orasone). Sometimes a second drug, such as Imuran, may be

added. The medication is taken daily, usually for at least a year. The

physician may attempt to taper and stop treatment if the patient is doing

well. However, a relapse often occurs, and the medication then must be

restarted and taken indefinitely. There may be side effects with

prednisone, such as swelling of the face, retention of fluid, and weight

gain. Long-term treatment with these drugs may also cause loss of bone.

This can lead to osteoporosis, or even severe damage to joints such as the

shoulder and knee. Therefore, the physician uses the lowest dosage

possible to decrease symptoms, improve liver tests, and slow liver damage.

Unfortunately, a few patients do not respond well to treatment, especially

if the disease is diagnosed late and cirrhosis is well advanced. When the

patient no longer responds to treatment with medication and liver damage

is severe, a liver transplant is considered.

Liver Transplantation

Liver transplantation is now an accepted form of treatment for chronic,

severe liver disease. Advances in surgical techniques and the use of new

drugs to suppress rejection have dramatically improved the success rate of

transplantation. The outcome for patients with autoimmune hepatitis is

excellent. Survival rates for this condition at transplant centers are

well over 90 percent, with a good quality of life after recovery.

Summary

Autoimmune hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. The inflammation is a

result of the immune system developing antibodies against the liver. It is

not a contagious disease, but it is a serious chronic disease that can

lead to irreversible cirrhosis, and eventually to liver failure. However,

the outlook for patients with autoimmune hepatitis is generally very

favorable. With early diagnosis, drug treatment to prevent serious liver

damage is effective in most patients. For those few patients who do not

respond to other treatment, successful liver transplantation is now a

standard form of therapy when liver damage is severe.

Related Diseases

" and the beat goes on....... " Sonny Bono " It's not the years in your life that

count. It's the life in your years. " Abraham Lincoln

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

What is Autoimmune Hepatitis?

The immune system consists of different types of white blood cells that

help to fight infections. Some of these cells produce antibodies.

Antibodies act as warriors. They defend the body by destroying bacteria,

viruses and other foreign materials. There are different kinds of

antibodies, each fighting against a specific foreign substance. Thus, the

immune system protects the body against outside invasion by germs. But

sometimes, the immune system mistakenly recognizes the body's own organs

as foreign. It can develop antibodies against these organs. This can cause

various illnesses, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. These illnesses

are called autoimmune disorders because the body is literally fighting

against itself.

When the immune system attacks the liver in this way, it is called

autoimmune hepatitis. Autoimmune hepatitis is not caused by a virus or

bacteria, so it is not a contagious disease. Exactly what triggers the

immune system against the liver is unknown. The inflammation is usually

chronic, and without treatment it can cause serious injury to the liver.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Autoimmune hepatitis occurs mainly in adolescent or young adult women

(about 70% of the time). However, there have also been cases of older

women and men developing the disease. Early symptoms are the same as those

for most types of hepatitis: fatigue, abdominal discomfort, and aching

joints. These early symptoms are sometimes mild and mistaken for other

illnesses, such as the flu. So, it is wise for people with these symptoms

to consult a physician. When autoimmune hepatitis progresses to severe

cirrhosis, there may be jaundice (yellow coloring to the skin and eyes),

marked swelling of the abdomen from fluid inside the abdomen, intestinal

bleeding, or mental confusion.

The physician often suspects autoimmune hepatitis from the patient's

medical history. For example, patients with other autoimmune diseases --

thyroiditis, ulcerative colitis, diabetes mellitus, vitiligo (a patchy

loss of pigment in the skin), Sjogren's syndrome (a condition causing dry

eyes and mouth) -- are more likely to have autoimmune hepatitis. A

definite diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis is obtained with blood testing.

Two antibodies that may develop in the blood are the ANA (antinuclear

antibody) and the SMA (smooth muscle antibody). Also, a certain type of

blood protein called gamma globulin is frequently elevated. A liver biopsy

is always needed to determine how much inflammation and scarring has

developed. This exam is performed under local anesthesia. A slender needle

is inserted through the right lower chest to extract a small piece of

liver tissue. The tissue is then examined under a microscope. This

information allows the physician to tailor the treatment to each

individual patient.

Treatment

The treatment of autoimmune hepatitis is aimed at curbing the autoimmune

response, and therefore the damage to liver cells. It is most effective

when begun at an early stage of the disease. In most cases, the initial

treatment is with a cortisone drug, usually prednisone (trade names:

Deltasone, Orasone). Sometimes a second drug, such as Imuran, may be

added. The medication is taken daily, usually for at least a year. The

physician may attempt to taper and stop treatment if the patient is doing

well. However, a relapse often occurs, and the medication then must be

restarted and taken indefinitely. There may be side effects with

prednisone, such as swelling of the face, retention of fluid, and weight

gain. Long-term treatment with these drugs may also cause loss of bone.

This can lead to osteoporosis, or even severe damage to joints such as the

shoulder and knee. Therefore, the physician uses the lowest dosage

possible to decrease symptoms, improve liver tests, and slow liver damage.

Unfortunately, a few patients do not respond well to treatment, especially

if the disease is diagnosed late and cirrhosis is well advanced. When the

patient no longer responds to treatment with medication and liver damage

is severe, a liver transplant is considered.

Liver Transplantation

Liver transplantation is now an accepted form of treatment for chronic,

severe liver disease. Advances in surgical techniques and the use of new

drugs to suppress rejection have dramatically improved the success rate of

transplantation. The outcome for patients with autoimmune hepatitis is

excellent. Survival rates for this condition at transplant centers are

well over 90 percent, with a good quality of life after recovery.

Summary

Autoimmune hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. The inflammation is a

result of the immune system developing antibodies against the liver. It is

not a contagious disease, but it is a serious chronic disease that can

lead to irreversible cirrhosis, and eventually to liver failure. However,

the outlook for patients with autoimmune hepatitis is generally very

favorable. With early diagnosis, drug treatment to prevent serious liver

damage is effective in most patients. For those few patients who do not

respond to other treatment, successful liver transplantation is now a

standard form of therapy when liver damage is severe.

Related Diseases

" and the beat goes on....... " Sonny Bono " It's not the years in your life that

count. It's the life in your years. " Abraham Lincoln

__________________________________________________