Ms. Li, who is in her 40s, has been in good health.
In 3 years ago, when Ms. Li is checked accidentally, discover transaminase is exalted, go to local hospital to do an examination to exclude hepatitis virus infection.

But, did not check clear transaminase raises specific pathogeny, opened a few to protect liver medicaments to go back accordingly eat.
Since Ms. Li did not feel any obvious discomfort, she slowly forgot about it.

Six months ago, Ms. Li began to feel weak in body, unable to do things in spirit, not wanting to eat too much, and often felt itchy on her body. Her family also felt that she looked pale.

Miss Li comes to a hospital to examine just discovery, at this moment the liver function assay of her is transaminase is raised not only, still appeared bilirubin rise obviously (jaundice) with a lot of index appear abnormal.

After a series of tests, including liver biopsy and serum antibody screening, Li was diagnosed with “autoimmune hepatitis”.

Fortunately, the discovery is still timely, after active treatment, Ms. Li’s condition is well under control, the color is also slowly better, gradually restored to the former health.

So, you might be wondering:

What is autoimmune hepatitis?
Abnormal liver function turns out to be more than viral hepatitis?
Below, introduce the relevant knowledge of autoimmune hepatitis to everybody!

01
What is autoimmune hepatitis?
Why ‘prefer’ women?

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an inflammation of the liver parenchyma mediated by an autoimmune response to liver cells.

It is caused by the destruction of the patient’s autoimmune tolerance, the specific etiology and pathogenesis has not been fully defined.

Women themselves are prone to various autoimmune diseases, so AIH is more common in female patients.

The proportion of male and female patients is about 1:4, and most of them are over 40 years old.

02
Is autoimmune hepatitis hepatitis?
Is it contagious?

Mention hepatitis, everybody thinks of first is infectious disease.

Actually, besides the virus hepatitis that has infectivity, other a lot of diseases that cause liver function abnormality also call it hepatitis collectively, but without infectivity, resemble alcoholic sex hepatitis, medicaments sex hepatitis, fat sex hepatitis and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) to wait.

What other hepatitis differs somewhat is, the main pathogenic factor of autoimmune hepatitis does not come from outside, originate from oneself however.

AIH is an inflammatory liver injury mediated by abnormal autoimmunity, which is generally believed to be triggered by environmental and other factors in genetically susceptible individuals. This abnormal autoimmunity is the main cause of liver dysfunction.

If rely solely on transaminase to rise this one index, it is impossible to carry on differential diagnosis with other hepatitis, this also is why Miss Li fails to diagnose in time at the beginning.

03
How to detect autoimmune hepatitis early?

Autoimmune hepatitis often comes on more insidious, what symptom can do not have or show only for certain non-specific symptom, for example anore inappeasement, lack of power, weight reduces, right upper abdomen is unwell, skin pruritus.

If have other immunological disease besides liver, can concomitant concerned knot is painful, goiter, blood sugar is raised wait, nevertheless a lot of circumstances are found only when examination liver function is abnormal.

So, want to diagnose autoimmunity hepatitis in time, rely on symptom only cannot early diagnose.

For female friends, if no hepatitis virus infection, no history of alcohol consumption, no significant fatty liver, no long-term medication.

Once appear liver function is abnormal, be about to think of the likelihood is autoimmune hepatitis place is brought about, suggest arrive as soon as possible hospital further examination.

04
How is autoimmune hepatitis treated and checked regularly?

Autoimmune hepatitis is also a type of chronic liver disease, and the overall objectives of its treatment are:

To obtain hepatic histological relief, prevent the progression of hepatitis to liver fibrosis, prevent cirrhosis, liver failure, as far as possible to prolong the survival time and improve the quality of life.

The standard treatment for autoimmune hepatitis is immunosuppressive therapy, but drug-related side effects should be avoided as much as possible.

Many patients require long-term low-dose hormone maintenance therapy and need to be aware of the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

Most of the patients after receiving standard treatment, the transaminase can be rapidly decreased until it returns to normal, a small number of people will have repeated.

In addition, patients with autoimmune hepatitis should review liver function and immunoglobulin every 3-6 months, still need to do regular imaging examination, including B ultrasound, CT or MRI, aggravation of the disease can be considered to repeat liver biopsy.

05
conclusion

Autoimmune hepatitis is not as common as viral hepatitis, but it is easily misdiagnosed.

Therefore, early detection, correct diagnosis and standardized treatment are the keys to control the development of the disease.

For patients with recurrent abnormal liver function for unknown reasons, especially female friends, it is recommended to have autoantibodies and IgG globulin detected in major hospitals as soon as possible, and to conduct pathological examination through liver biopsy if necessary.

Once diagnosed, should receive regular treatment, strengthen regular examination, most cases of treatment effect is very good.