الفهرس 
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Abstract
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a progressive necroinflamatory disease of the liver of unknown cause. As indicated by its name, it is regarded as a putative autoimmune disease on the basis of shared featureswith classical autoimmune diseases and non-autoimmune-mediated
Inflammatory diseases.
The mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis are not fully understood, though there is growing evidence that genetic predisposition, molecular mimicry and/or impairment of regulatory T-cells are involved in the initiation and progression of the autoimmune liver attack.
AIH has been classified into two types on the basis of its autoantibody profile. Type 1 is associated with ANA and/or ASMA, while type 2 is characterized by anti-liver-kidney-microsomal type 1(anti-LKM1). An autoantibody specific for AIH, anti-SLA, is highly specific for AIH and is observed in a minority of patients with either type 1 and 2 AIH.
The diagnosis is based on histological abnormalities, characteristic clinical and laboratory findings, abnormal levels of serum globulins, and the presence of one or more characteristic autoantibodies. A scoring system has been established by the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Study Group (IAIHG).
Steroid-based treatment regimens are the mainstay of therapy and are successful in causing a clinical, biochemical, and histological remission in the majority of patients.