Autoimmune Hepatitis: Epidemiology, Subtypes, and Presentation

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic immunologic disorder in which the immune system targets the liver. The disease has a genetic basis and this accounts for the epidemiologic variation observed in serologic testing and clinical presentation across different populations. The incidence of AIH increases with age into the 70s and seems to be increasing in prevalence. Most patients test positive for antinuclear antibody, ASMA, or anti-LKM but about 20% of patients do not have these serologic markers. At clinical presentation, patients may be asymptomatic, symptomatic, have acute liver failure, or decompensated cirrhosis.