Hepatitis, chronic, autoimmune

K75.4

• Description
• Diagnostic criteria
• Medicine treatment
• Referral

DESCRIPTION

Autoimmune induced hepatitis.

DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA

Clinical

• Jaundice.
• Hepatosplenomegaly.
• Cutaneous features of chronic liver disease.
• Extrahepatic manifestations of the autoimmune process.

Investigations

• Elevated bilirubin and transaminases.
• Hypoalbuminaemia and prolonged prothrombin time/INR.
• Auto-immune marker screen.
• Total serum globulin or gammaglobulin or IgG greater than 1.5 times upper normal limit.
• Diagnosis confirmed on liver biopsy.

MEDICINE TREATMENT

Induction therapy:

• Corticosteroids. Specialist initiated.

Maintenance therapy:

• Azathioprine. Specialist initiated.

REFERRAL

• All for confirmation of diagnosis and initiation of treatment.