Autoimmune hepatitis refers to inflammatory processes in the liver associated with disorders in the functioning of the immune system, in which aggression occurs on the body's own tissues. Below we will talk in more detail about this ailment, as well as consider the primary symptoms and the main ways to deal with this problem.
Interesting information
This disease is considered extremely dangerous, as it often provokes the appearance of cirrhosis, portal hypertension, as well as the so-called liver failure. Unfortunately, until now, scientists have not been able to figure out why autoimmune hepatitis occurs. There is a point of view that the disease occurs as a result of viral hepatitis A. Others tend to think that the hereditary factor of the defect in the immune system itself is to blame for everything. It is noteworthy that this disease is diagnosed more often in girls than in boys.
Symptoms
According to experts, autoimmunehepatitis can begin its development suddenly and very rapidly. On the other hand, there are cases when the disease did not declare itself for several years, manifesting itself only with bouts of fever, pain and
muscle discomfort, fatigue. Often, autoimmune hepatitis is diagnosed in patients already at the extreme stage of liver cirrhosis. In this case, the patient develops yellowness of the skin, darkening of the urine and discoloration of the feces. Note that, unlike other types of related diseases, chronic autoimmune hepatitis progresses continuously and without spontaneous remission. In some cases, the patient feels better, but the biochemical processes themselves do not normalize.
Autoimmune hepatitis. Diagnosis
According to experts, at the moment the diagnosis can be confirmed by determining the so-called specific antibodies (SMA, ANA, SLA, LKM, LMA) in the blood serum. It is depending on the specific combination of these antibodies that the types of the disease are distinguished: I, II, III.
Treatment
After confirming the diagnosis, the doctor must prescribe individual therapy based on he alth indicators and the examination. So, as a rule, it implies corticosteroid hormone therapy. Often such a course lasts for years, of course, with all the ensuing unpleasant consequences. Thus, patients are often severely suppressedthe immune system, which, in turn, leads to a decrease in the resistance of the entire body to various kinds of infections, the appearance of diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, the formation of ulcers directly in the stomach and duodenum. Modern methods of extracorporeal hemocorrection offered by experienced doctors help to achieve remission of the disease somewhat faster, as well as to prolong it as much as possible in the future. At the same time, the number of drugs containing hormones is minimal.
