Chronic Active Hepatitis and Related Disorders

Autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a necro-inflammatory disease that, untreated, carries a 3-year mortality rate of approximately 50%. In this last of a series of three articles, current knowledge regarding AIH is reviewed. The mode of presentation of AIH is variable: insidious onset with few if any symptoms, presenting with symptoms indistinguishable from that of any acute viral hepatitis, or onset with fulminate hepatitis. In AIH, hepatocytes become injured by various agents (such as a viral infection) and become antigenic, leading to a self-perpetuating antigen-antibody response with subsequent chronic liver disease. AIH is the only type of hepatitis that is responsive to corticosteroids. Occasionally, AIH develops after liver transplantation.

Hepatitis A, B, and D

Inflammation of the liver is known as hepatitis. Six or seven viruses, hepatitis A-G, are responsible for the majority of cases of viral hepatitis. All of the types of hepatitis present with the same flu-like symptoms. In this first of a series of three articles, current knowledge regarding hepatitis A, B, and D will be reviewed. Fifty percent of hepatitis cases are due to hepatitis A. Hepatitis B is considered a sexually transmitted disease. Hepatitis D is an incomplete virus found accompanying Hepatitis B. Every phase of patient care improves when health care professionals are knowledgeable regarding their clients' illnesses. This article presents our current scientific understanding of hepatitis A, B, and D viruses.