GI - Autoimmue Hepatitis Flashcards
What is Autoimmune Hepatitis (AH)
severe and chronic form of hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
Etiology of AH
- viral and chemical triggers:
- complex trait etiology –> genetic and environmental components eg viral infection and hepatotoxic drugs - HLA gene on Chr 6 + MHC gene
- body damage itself d/t loss of self tolerance = classic autoimmunity - idiopathic?
Type I Autoimmunity Hepatitis (3)
- more common than Type II
- mostly in women ~80%
(30% of women are < than 40 years and 30% have other autoimmune disease) - ANA and anti-smooth muscle antibodies are found
What does ANA stand for? What does it do? What disease is this found as well?
ANA = anti-nuclear antibodies
Fxn = targets nuclear component of cells
Example = Lupus
What are anti-smooth muscle antibodies?
Anti-smooth muscle antibodies targets vessels and ducts which contain smooth muscle in the liver.
Type II Autoimmunity Hepatitis
- tend to effect kids 2-14 years old
- classic autoimmunity
- anti-cytosol and anti-microsomal antibodies targets the cytosol and microsomes
What is the cytosol?
the watery component of the cell located between plasma membrane of cell and membrane surrounding the nucleus
What is the microsome?
small vesicles pinching from the ER containing proteins
Manifestations of AH (ranges)
ranging mild to severe (asymptomatic to hepatic failure)
Diagnostics of AH (4)
- exclude other viral hepatitis: look at Ab to exclude
- exclude hepatic diseases eg alcoholic cirrhosis
- biopsy of the liver: invasive and if neccessary
- test for autoantibodies (ANA, anti-cytosol antibodies, anti-microsomeal antibodies, and anti-smooth muscle antibodies)
Treatment of AH
- immunosuppressants: steriods to suppress IR
- transplant??: if pt do not respond to drugs and to manage the progression BUT it is complex
