What are the symptoms of autoimmune liver disease

Hepatitis is one of the modern diseases that is very difficult to treat. This disease causes serious damage to the human liver and prevents the liver from performing its normal functions. The toxins cannot be broken down in the body, so if it continues for a long time, the patient will be in danger of life. There are many types of hepatitis. In recent years, a disease called autoimmune liver disease has become increasingly popular. Let’s take a look at the symptoms of autoimmune liver disease.

Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic progressive inflammatory liver disease mediated by an autoimmune response. Its clinical features include varying degrees of elevated serum transaminases, hypergammaglobulinemia, and positive autoantibodies. Its histological features include interface hepatitis with a predominant infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells. Severe cases can rapidly progress to cirrhosis and liver failure. The disease occurs worldwide, with a relatively high incidence in European and American countries. Its exact incidence and prevalence in my country are still unclear, but the number of cases reported in domestic literature shows a clear upward trend.

1. Primary biliary cirrhosis and AIH have similar clinical symptoms and laboratory tests, but are more common in middle-aged women, with fatigue, jaundice, and skin itching as the main manifestations. Liver function tests show significantly increased levels of alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, increased serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein, and increased immunoglobulins, with IgM being the most prominent.

2. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is characterized by extensive inflammation and fibrosis of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary systems. It is more common in young and middle-aged men and is often accompanied by ulcerative colitis. 84% of patients are ANCA-positive, but it is not specific. Cholangiography can show alternating stenosis and dilatation of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts, presenting a beaded-like change. Diagnosis requires exclusion of secondary causes such as tumors, stones, surgery, and trauma. When the lesion only involves the small intrahepatic bile ducts, diagnosis requires histological examination, and the typical change is fibrous cholangitis.

3. Acute and chronic viral hepatitis may also cause hyperglobulinemia and circulating autoantibodies, but the antibody titer is low and the duration is short. Testing serum viral antigens and antibodies is very helpful for identification.

4. Alcoholic fatty hepatitis has a history of drinking, and is often characterized by elevated serum IgA levels. Although ANA and SMA positivity may be present, the titers are generally low, and anti-LKM1 and PANCA positivity are rarely present.