PERSPECTIVES ON AUTOIMMUNE HEPATITIS.

Abstract

DOI: 10.1097/SGA.0000000000000505 autoimmune hepatitis (aIH) is a chronic liver disease that occurs when there is dysregulation among T-lymphocyte helper cells, T-lymphocyte cytotoxic cells, and B-lymphocyte cells in response to hepatic autoantibodies (Lohse & Weiler-Normann, 2018; Lowe & John, 2018). Dysregulation of lymphocytes causes cytotoxic T-lymphocytes to destroy hepatocytes, leading to progressive inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis of the liver requiring liver transplantation (Lohse & Weiler-Normann, 2018; Lowe & John, 2018). autoimmune hepatitis occurs in genetically susceptible individuals and is triggered by drugs, which include prescription and nonprescription agents, infections, and xenobiotics in the environment (Lohse & Weiler-Normann, 2018; Lowe & John, 2018). The incidence of aIH is 15–25 per 100,000 worldwide. It is estimated that 100,000–200,000 people in the United States have the disease (Lohse & Weiler-Normann, 2018). approximately 90% of patients with aIH are female who may have coexisting autoimmune disorders (Lohse & WeilerNormann, 2018).