Case Study and Review of Autoimmune Hepatitis

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2013

Department

Medical Technology

School

Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences

Abstract

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIN) is a rare autoimmune disorder causing chronic liver inflammation. The disorder, sometimes called lupoid hepatitis, is not well understood because its clinical presentation is highly variable. The liver becomes inflamed due to T-cell-mediated activation of B cells that produce autoantibodies directed against liver antigens. This article details the case of a 28-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with AIH type I almost a decade ago; her therapeutic regimen may serve as a useful model for the disorder. An extensive interview was conducted with the patient. Herein, a timeline of her diagnosis is discussed, and her laboratory results are presented. Currently, she is living a fairly healthy life despite her liver disease. Her most recent liver function test results were completely normal, which is unusual with AIH. The patient was prescribed the immunosuppressive drug azathioprine to treat her AIH shortly after diagnosis. She also began following a vegan diet with unrefined sugar along with regular sleep and exercise. Currently, the patient is taking no azathioprine due to consecutively normal liver function test results over the past few years. Her continued health improvement could be credited to her strict vegan diet.

Publication Title

Laboratory Medicine

Volume

44

Issue

1

First Page

79

Last Page

85

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