What Is Autoimmune Hepatitis & Why Is It So Serious?

Types Of Autoimmune Hepatitis

Doctors have identified two types of autoimmune hepatitis, formally known as Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 autoimmune hepatitis is the most common form and can occur at any age. Approximately half of the patients who have Type 1 also have other autoimmune conditions, such as celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or ulcerative colitis. Type 2 autoimmune hepatitis is most commonly found in children and teenagers, as adults are less likely to develop it. Similar to Type 1, patients with Type 2 tend to also have other autoimmune diseases as well.

How Its Diagnosed

There are two main methods of diagnosing autoimmune hepatitis. The first method is through blood tests. A doctor will take a sample of the patient's blood and test it for antibodies, which are agents created by the immune system to fight pathogens, but in cases of autoimmune hepatitis, these antibodies attack the liver cells instead. Blood tests are important for distinguishing autoimmune hepatitis from conditions with similar symptoms, including viral hepatitis. In addition, an antibody test is useful for pinpointing a patient's exact type of autoimmune hepatitis. The second method is a liver biopsy, in which doctors take a small piece of the liver to confirm their diagnosis and determine the severity of the liver damage. The small portion is extracted through a needle and analyzed at a lab.