Munaeem's Blog

  Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic disease in which the body's immune system attacks the liver and causes inflammation and liver damage 1 2 .  The exact cause of autoimmune hepatitis is unknown, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors 3 4 5 6 7 8 .  Certain risk factors for developing autoimmune hepatitis have been identified, including a family history of autoimmune hepatitis, a history of bacterial or viral infections, being a cisgender female, or being assigned female at birth, and using certain medications 9 . Types of Autoimmune Hepatitis There are two types of autoimmune hepatitis 3 8 2 : Type 1: This is the most common type in the United States, accounting for 96% of autoimmune hepatitis cases in adults and about 90% of cases in children. It is characterized by the presence of anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA) with or without anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA). Type 2: This type is uncommon in the United States but more frequently ...