Auto Immune Hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver, or hepatitis, is a general term, and the autoimmune variant is thought to be caused by a malfunctioning or over-productive immune system. In autoimmune hepatitis (AH), the patient’s own system attacks healthy tissue. In this respect, Autoimmune hepatitis shares traits with outer autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
This commonality may result in many of the new approaches used in treating other autoimmune conditions may also turn out to be useful in treating this disease. However, the study of over-reactive immune systems is still being undertaken. It is thought that hereditary conditions cause some cases of AH, in others environmental factors such as chemicals or a virus may be to blame. AH is relatively uncommon, less common in men, and usually diagnosed between adolescence and middle age. Anyone can be diagnosed with the condition, however.
A patient might first be aware of undue tiredness, or chronic fatigue. Slight but constant pain may be present, generally in the body, and particularly in the upper abdomen. A yellow hue to the skin or eyes may eventually be caused by the oversupply in the liver of bilirubin.
Whilst it is true that left untreated the liver will eventually fail, many treatments exist for the condition, and the patient should take an active role in seeking out a variety of opinions. Some of the treatments suggested by other sufferers are listed in our “treatments” section.
The major approach is to control the disease, by reducing an overproductive immune system, often with drugs. If this is followed with other lifestyle changes thought to play a part (such as diet improvement and stress reduction) a patient has an excellent prospect of leading a normal healthy lifespan.
