Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a complex multifactorial liver disease with unknown etiology. It may be induced by certain triggers that cause immune disorders and autoimmune attack in genetically susceptible individuals, which ultimately results in chronic persistent interface inflammation of the liver. The diagnosis of AIH is made based on comprehensive evaluation score system. All AIH patients should receive interventions and the mainstay therapy is prednisone alone or in combination with azathioprine. Further exploratory researches on refractory AIH have been developed. Liver transplantation is still the only effective option for patients with decompensated cirrhosis or hepatic failure.
Keywords: autoantibody; autoimmune; diagnosis; hepatitis; treatment.
© 2015 Chinese Medical Association Shanghai Branch, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.