This is an automatically translated article.
The article was consulted with Specialist Doctor I Vo Thi Thuy Trang - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.In autoimmune hepatitis, the immune system attacks the liver's normal cells, causing inflammation and liver damage. If not monitored and treated, the patient will be at risk of death.
1. What is autoimmune hepatitis?
Autoimmune hepatitis is a type of chronic hepatitis characterized by hyperglobulinemia and the presence of autoantibodies in the blood. These autoantibodies are produced by the body's own immune system and attack and destroy the patient's own liver cells. The cause of the disease has not yet been identified. Disease is considered a disease of the immune system, the system that normally protects us against infections from bacteria, viruses and other pathogens when foreign antigens enter the body. In people with autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks one or more parts of the body as a foreign factor. This causes acute, chronic inflammation and can damage one or more body organs.Clinical manifestations of autoimmune hepatitis often vary from asymptomatic to cirrhosis, liver failure as the following signs:
Fatigue, hepatomegaly, jaundice, itching, rash, joint pain, abdominal discomfort Spider angiomas or abnormal green blood vessels on the skin Poor digestion, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, loss of appetite, dark urine, discolored stools. Skin and weight loss without cause Pain in the right lower quadrant Subclinical manifestations include:
Tests: Increase in liver enzymes, alkaline phosphatase, Increase in IgG There are many immunological tests to quantify many types of antibodies:
Antinuclear antibodies ANA Anti-slippery antibody ASMA Anti-actin antibody AAA Antibody anti-SLA/LP soluble liver antigen Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) Anti-mitochondrial antibody AMA Anti-DNA antibody anti-DNA Anti-hepatobiliary microsomal antibodies type 1, type 3 anti-LKM 1, 3 Anti-liver cytosol antibodies type 1 ALC1
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2. Is autoimmune liver disease contagious?
Autoimmune liver disease can occur at any age, in both sexes, but more often in women than in men, it usually occurs after the age of 20 or after 50-60Our immune system will react when it is affected. Viral nuclei are foreign invaders. But with an autoimmune disease, the immune system attacks normal tissue cells. Scientists believe that genetic factors, viruses, chemicals, and hormones can be the cause of the disease, so autoimmune liver disease is not contagious.
Autoimmune liver disease is divided into 2 types and one with no autoantibodies:
Type 1 autoantibodies ANA, ASMA (65%), AAA, AMA, SLA/LP (10-30%), anti DNA (25-35%), ANCA Type 2 autoantibodies ANA, ASMA, LKM 1, ALC 1, SLA/LP (10-30%), LKM 3 (rare) Autoimmune hepatitis without autoantibodies (20) %) In summary, autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the liver cells of unknown etiology. The disease is related to genetic factors. Diagnosis is difficult and relies on blood tests, liver biopsies when necessary, and, of course, autoimmune hepatitis not being contagious.
With the danger of the disease, when suffering from autoimmune liver disease, the patient needs to be treated to avoid complications to liver failure, cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Currently Vinmec International General Hospital has hepatobiliary screening, which helps detect Hepatitis Virus at an early stage even when there are no symptoms. The examination will help the doctor evaluate the liver's ability to work through liver enzyme tests. Assessment of hepatobiliary status through ultrasound images and diseases that have the potential to affect liver disease/exacerbation of liver disease. In-depth analysis of parameters to evaluate hepatobiliary function through laboratory tests, laboratory tests, risks affecting the liver and early screening for hepatobiliary cancer. This screening is essential for people who are at high risk for liver problems or have a family history of liver disease.
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