Symptoms & Causes of Autoimmune Hepatitis

What are the symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis?

People with autoimmune hepatitis may have some of the following symptoms

• feeling tired
• joint pain
• nausea
• poor appetite
• pain over the liver, in the upper part of the abdomen
• yellowish color of the whites of the eyes and skin, called jaundice
• darkening of the color of urine
• lightening of the color of stools
• skin conditions, such as rash, psoriasis, vitiligo, or acne

If you have symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis, they can range from mild to severe.

Many people with autoimmune hepatitis have no symptoms. In such cases, doctors may find you have signs of liver problems during routine blood tests, and this may lead to a diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis. People without symptoms at diagnosis may develop symptoms later.

Some people with autoimmune hepatitis don’t have symptoms until they develop complications due to cirrhosis. These symptoms include

• feeling tired or weak
• losing weight without trying
• swelling of the abdomen from a buildup of fluid, called ascites
• swelling of the lower legs, ankles, or feet, called edema
• itchy skin
• jaundice
• vomiting blood if cirrhosis leads to enlarged veins in the esophagus, called esophageal varices, and those varices burst
• confusion or difficulty thinking if cirrhosis leads to a buildup of toxins in the brain, called hepatic encephalopathy

What causes autoimmune hepatitis?

Experts aren’t sure what causes autoimmune hepatitis. Studies suggest that certain genes make some people more likely to develop autoimmune diseases. In people with these genes, factors in the environment may trigger an autoimmune reaction that causes their immune system to attack the liver.

Researchers are still studying the environmental triggers that play a role in autoimmune hepatitis. These triggers may include certain viruses and medicines.

Some medicines can cause liver injury that resembles autoimmune hepatitis. In most cases, the liver injury goes away when the medicine is stopped. Telling your doctor the names of all the medicines you take, even over-the-counter medicines or herbal or botanical products, is important.