title: Autoimmune hepatitis: a noninfectious killer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article reviews autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) to promote early recognition, diagnosis, and referral for nurse practitioners (NPs) encountering this rare condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selected research and clinical articles from Medline, PubMed, and CINAHL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AIH is a rare condition of unknown etiology affecting women 3.6 times more than men and may result in liver failure, subsequent liver transplantation, and death. Untreated AH is associated with up to 80% mortality. Collaboration and referral to gastroenterologists, hepatologists, and other specialists are needed to improve outcomes for this potentially devastating disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Corticosteroid treatment has long been the mainstay of treatment of AIH, although newer therapies are promising. NPs can dramatically improve outcomes by early recognition, diagnosis, referral, and monitoring for common side effects of treatment working collaboratively with specialists.
authors.affiliation: (Associate Professor), Loyola University School of Nursing, New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors.forename: Laurie Anne
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D057179:Advanced Practice Nursing; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D012017:Referral and Consultation
keywords: Autoimmune disorders; hepatitis; nurse practitioners; primary care