Publikation

[Autoimmune hepatitis]

Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review - 01.04.2011

Bereiche
PubMed
DOI

Zitation
Sulz M, Gerlach T. [Autoimmune hepatitis]. Ther Umsch 2011; 68:189-94.
Art
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review (Deutsch)
Zeitschrift
Ther Umsch 2011; 68
Veröffentlichungsdatum
01.04.2011
ISSN (Druck)
0040-5930
Seiten
189-94
Kurzbeschreibung/Zielsetzung

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic, progressive disease of the liver characterized by hypergammaglobulinemia, circulating autoantibodies, and interface hepatitis on biopsy. AIH can occur in all age groups. It affects women more commonly than men (3:1). The spectrum of clinical manifestations is wide and ranges from asymptomatic disease to acute hepatitis or even acute liver failure. Corticosteroids are the drug of choice for induction of remission, azathioprine is the drug of choice for maintenance of remission. Rapid response to immunosuppressive treatment supports the diagnosis and leads to a good long-term prognosis. Therapy should be ideally continued for at least two to four years to minimize the risk of relapse.