Lupoid hepatitis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Synonyms and keywords: Autoimmune hepatitis

Lupoid hepatitis (also called Autoimmune hepatitis) is an auto-immune disease which causes liver cirrhosis. It may be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or other connective tissue disorders. 60% of patients have chronic hepatitis that may mimic viral hepatitis, but without serologic evidence of a viral infection. The disease usually affects women and is strongly associated with anti-smooth muscle auto-antibodies. Autoimmune hepatitis is a condition in which the patient’s own immune systems attacks the liver causing inflammation and liver cell death. The condition is chronic and progressive. Although the disease is chronic, many patients with autoimmune hepatitis present acutely ill with jaundice, fever and sometimes symptoms of severe hepatic dysfunction, a picture that resembles acute hepatitis.

• Krawitt, E. L. 1996. Autoimmune hepatitis. New England Journal of Medicine. 334:897-903.

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