title: Autoimmune hepatitis.
abstract: Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease of the hepatic parenchyma that can present in acute or chronic forms. In common with many autoimmune diseases, autoimmune hepatitis is associated with non-organ-specific antibodies in the context of hepatic autoimmunity. This dichotomy has made definition of a unifying hypothesis in the pathophysiology of the disease difficult, although data from the past 8 years have drawn attention to the role of regulatory T cells. Several triggers have been identified, and the disease arises in genetically susceptible individuals. Clinical and biochemical remission is achievable in up to 85% of cases. For the remaining patients, alternative immunosuppression strategies are an option. Liver transplantation provides an excellent outcome for patients with acute liver failure or complications of end-stage liver disease, including hepatocellular carcinoma. Variant or overlapping syndromes are worthy of consideration when unexpected disease features arise.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, UK. Electronic address: michael.heneghan@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Heneghan
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Yeoman
authors.forename: Sumita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Alastair D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Maria Serena
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Longhi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens