Hepatitis Central

The latest research & treatment news about Hepatitis C infection, diagnosis, symptoms and treatments.

Autoimmune Liver Disease

The diagnostic criteria of autoimmune hepatitis have been codified, and concepts of autoantibody expression, genetic predisposition, immunopathogenesis, disease behavior, and treatment have been extended. A scoring system quantitates the net strength of the diagnosis, but it does not sufficiently downgrade laboratory and histologic features of cholestasis to be used generally. Antibodies to asialoglycoprotein receptor identify patients who are prone to relapse after corticosteroid withdrawal, and antibodies to act in characterize patients with a poorer immediate treatment response than seronegative counterparts. These antibodies may ultimately supplant conventional markers that lack prognostic implication.

Antibodies to heat shock proteins have promise as indices of disease activity, and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies have similar frequencies of low titer seropositivity in primary sclerosing cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis. These latter antibodies also have similar immunoglobulin G subclasses, and they may have a common target antigen. The same genetic risk factors for autoimmune hepatitis are associated with immune manifestations in other chronic liver diseases, and the host predisposition rather than the nature of the liver disease may be the critical determinant of the immune response. Corticosteroid-treated patients with severe autoimmune hepatitis have the same 10-year survival as age- and gender-matched normal subjects and histologic cirrhosis at presentation does not diminish the immediate response to treatment or lower the 10-year life expectancy. 6- Mercaptopurine can enhance the efficacy of a prednisone regimen in patients in whom therapy with azathioprine has failed.

Author: CZAJA AJ, MAYO CLIN & MAYO FDN,
200 1ST ST SW, ROCHESTER, MN 55905 CURRENT OPINION IN GASTROENTEROLOGY1997MAY;13(3):248-256

Site Topics

  • HCV Symptoms

    You'll find links to a comprehensive symptoms list, as well as various studies and discussions about Hepatitis C symptoms.

  • Lab Tests

    What they are and what they mean. Helps you interpret & understand all the various hepatitis lab tests likely to be encountered.

  • Hepatitis C Genotypes

    Learn about Hepatitis C Genotypes and their variants.

  • Viral Load

    Provides detailed information on how to analyze and interpret viral load numbers as well as a link to a convenient Viral Load Chart.

  • What is...?

    Learn more about various Hepatitis C related topics, including HCV, Ascites, Biopsies, and much more.

  • HCV Medicines

    Numerous links to studies, info sheets, FAQs, and analysis of Ribavirin/Rebetron medicines.

  • Glossary

    Commonly used medical terms and definitions.

  • Hepatitis C Doctors

    A state-by-state and worldwide reference listing physicians who treat HCV, including an email link to submit your physician for inclusion.

  • Biopsy Info

    A comprehensive resource of information relating to the liver biopsy.

  • Cirrhosis

    Many discussions and analyses of cirrhosis, including causes, complications, pathology, symptoms, and much more.

  • Liver Cancer

    Liver Cancer/Hepatocellular Carcinoma studies, info sheets, FAQs, and analysis.

  • Liver Disease Medicines

    An exhaustive list of links to studies, info sheets, FAQs, and analysis of the various drugs used to treat liver disease.

  • Hep-Central Email List

    Sign up to learn about advances and breakthroughs in Hepatitis C research, including information about medical and complementary treatments.

  • HCV Links

    Convenient links to other sites external to Hepatitis-Central.

  • HCV Transmission

    Information about the transmission of Hepatitis C.

  • HCV Natural Remedies

    A number of herbal products useful in the management of liver disease.

  • HCV Books

    Recommended reading for those interested in hepatitis information.

  • Hepatitis C Forum

    A Bulletin Board for discussions on hepatitis, treatments, etc.

  • Hepatitis C Activism

    An easy way to get involved in urging our government to do more for Hepatitis C awareness and treatment research.

Advertisement

Advertisement