Autoimmune Hepatitis
When autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the liver, which meets preferred women.
As it arises, is still unclear. However, genetic factors appear to also play an important role, as are found in most sufferers of certain surface features on the white blood cells (HLA-DR-3 DR-4 and HLA-B8).
Note: The hepatitides A, B and C are viral infections of the liver and no autoimmune disorders.
Frequency
The autoimmune hepatitis affects about one in 10,000 people in Europe.
Symptoms
- Pressure pain in the liver
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- General symptoms such as fatigue and reduced performance
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of this disease is based on exclusion of other causes (such as hepatitis caused by virus mentioned above) through specific blood parameters. Furthermore, the autoimmune hepatitis speaks very quickly to an immunosuppression (suppressing the body's defenses, see the section "What are the treatment options are there").
Complications
- Development of liver cirrhosis
- Development of liver cancer