Role of Biologics in the Development of Autoimmune Hepatitis: A Review

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a cause of chronic, immune-mediated liver injury which without treatment may progress to end-stage liver disease. The disease state, characterized by elevations in liver enzymes, autoantibodies, and interface hepatitis on histology, has been noted to be induced by a wide range of insults. Medications, most commonly minocycline and nitrofurantoin, have long been established as potential inducers of AIH. Recently, biologics, powerful immune-modulators, have also been reported to induce AIH. We conclude that there is an association between administration of biologics in the development of AIH, and whether the relationship is causal will require appropriate studies in the future.