Autoimmune hepatits updates

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic necro inflammatory hepatitis of unknown etiology, characterized histologically by a dense mononuclear infiltrate in the portal tracts and serologically by autoantibodies against liver-specific and non–liver-specific antigens and increased immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels .To date, 3types of AIH have been described based on differences in autoantibody patterns. AIH type 1 (AIH-1) is characterized by the presence of circulating anti–smooth muscle antibodies (ASMAs) and/or antinuclear antibodies (ANAs). AIH type 2 (AIH-2) is characterized by circulating liver- kidney microsomal type 1 (LKM-1) antibody or anti–liver cytosol 1 (anti-LC1) antibody. A more recently described third type of AIH (AIH type 3) may be distinguished by autoantibodies to soluble liver proteins or liver-pancreas antigen .Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare disease, but with a wide range of prevalence in different populations .Autoimmune hepatitis is one of the very few chronic liver diseases that can be effectively controlled in most cases by simple drug therapy ,but if untreated it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality .Thus ,awareness and early recognition of the syndrome and accurate diagnosis is essential to reduce mortality morbidity .Corticosteroids (usually prednisone prednisolone ) are standared treatment , azathioprine and short-term cyclosporine induce a remission of autoimmune hepatitis in children .