What Is Autoimmune Hepatitis?

Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic inflammatory liver disease with, usually, no known cause. The disease is more common in females and has been associated with a disorder called hypergammaglobulinemia.

Hypergammaglobinemia is a disorder where there are too many circulating protein antibodies in the blood. A chronic infection or certain malignant blood diseases may cause hypergammaglobinemia. Autoimmune hepatitis may resolve without treatment in some individuals, but, for the majority of individuals, it is chronic and can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure.