What Is Autoimmune Hepatitis & Why Is It So Serious?

Cirrhosis

When autoimmune hepatitis is left untreated, it can lead to liver scarring, a condition otherwise known as cirrhosis. In fact, cirrhosis of the liver is often the first complication autoimmune hepatitis patients experience. It is also a common trigger for subsequent complications. The longer it goes untreated, the more damage the liver will incur, until a patient's liver fails entirely. It's important to diagnose and treat autoimmune hepatitis early to avoid liver failure. If the condition leads to advanced liver disease, patients might need to undergo a liver transplant.