Journal Article

Autoimmune Hepatitis—Immunologically Triggered Liver Pathogenesis—Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies

Sucher, Robert, Brandacher, Gerald, Gradistanac, Tanja, Sucher, Elisabeth, Schneeberger, Stefan, Berg, Thomas

2019

Overview

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a severe liver disease that arises in genetically predisposed male and female individuals worldwide. Diagnosis of AIH is made clinically applying diagnostic scores; however, the heterotopic disease phenotype often makes a rapid determination of disease challenging. AIH responds favorably to steroids and pharmacologic immunosuppression, and liver transplantation is only necessary in cases with acute liver failure or end-stage liver cirrhosis. Recurrence or development of de novo AIH after transplantation is possible, and treatment is similar to standard AIH therapy. Current experimental investigations of T cell-mediated autoimmune pathways and analysis of changes within the intestinal microbiome might advance our knowledge on the pathogenesis of AIH and trigger a spark of hope for novel therapeutic strategies.

• Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation,Hindawi,John Wiley & Sons, Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Age / Animals / Antigens / Autoimmunity / Biomarkers / Cirrhosis / Combined Modality Therapy / Disease Susceptibility - immunology / Gastroenterology / Hepatitis / Hepatitis, Autoimmune - diagnosis / Hepatitis, Autoimmune - epidemiology / Hepatitis, Autoimmune - etiology / Hepatitis, Autoimmune - therapy / Hepatology / Humans / Immunoglobulins / Immunology / Immunosuppression / Intestine / Liver cancer / Liver cirrhosis / Liver diseases / Liver failure / Liver transplantation / Lymphocytes T / Medical prognosis / Microbiomes / Mortality / Pathogenesis / Pediatrics / Phenotypes / Review / Risk Factors / Severity of Illness Index / Steroid hormones / Transplants & implants / Treatment Outcome