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INTRODUCTION — The liver is one of the largest and most important organs in the body. It functions to cleanse toxins from the blood, break down medications, and aid in digestion and blood clotting. Hepatitis is a general term that... See more » INTRODUCTION — The liver is one of the largest and most important organs in the body. It functions to cleanse toxins from the blood, break down medications, and aid in digestion and blood clotting. Hepatitis is a general term that means inflammation of the liver. There are many forms and causes of hepatitis (such as viruses and certain drugs), including autoimmune hepatitis. In autoimmune hepatitis, the body's immune system attacks the cells of the liver, which causes the liver to become inflamed. Topics that discuss other types of hepatitis are available separately. (See "Patient information: Hepatitis B" and see "Patient information: Hepatitis C"). CAUSES AND TYPES — It is not clear why autoimmune hepatitis develops. Researchers suspect that some people inherit a genetic disposition that could make them more likely to develop it. Sometimes drugs or infections trigger the development of the disease. Patients with autoimmune hepatitis may also have other autoimmune disorders, such as thyroiditis, ulcerative colitis, diabetes mellitus, vitiligo, lupus, or Sjögren's syndrome. (See "Patient information: Ulcerative colitis" and see "Patient information: Diabetes mellitus; type 2" and see "Patient information: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)" and see "Patient information: Sjögren's syndrome"). There are two major forms of autoimmune hepatitis: type 1 and type 2. * Type 1 autoimmune hepatitis can affect people of any age or gender. * Type 2 autoimmune hepatitis primarily affects girls and young women and is less common. There are also rare forms of autoimmune hepatitis (called variants) that have features of both autoimmune hepatitis and other liver diseases (primary sclerosing cholangitis or primary biliary cirrhosis). SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS — Most patients with autoimmune hepatitis have no symptoms. The disorder is often first detected by abnormal laboratory tests performed for an unrelated reason (such as for a life insurance examination). The most common symptom is fatigue. Some people have symptoms of hepatitis, including an enlarged liver, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), itching, skin rashes, joint pain, abdominal discomfort, abnormal blood vessels in the skin, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, dark urine, and pale or gray colored stools. In its most advanced form, autoimmune hepatitis can progress to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). (See "Patient information: Cirrhosis"). DIAGNOSIS — Autoimmune hepatitis is diagnosed with a laboratory tests and a liver biopsy. During a liver biopsy, a small sample of liver tissue is removed and examined under a microscope. The biopsy can help to confirm the diagnosis and establish its severity while excluding other potential causes of liver disease. (See "Patient information: Liver biopsy"). Many patients with autoimmune hepatitis have proteins in the blood called antinuclear antibodies (ANA). (See "Patient information: Antinuclear antibodies (ANA)"). See less »

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