How do you reverse autoimmune hepatitis?

There’s no cure for autoimmune hepatitis, but treatment can help you manage your symptoms and prevent damage to your liver.

What should I eat if I have autoimmune hepatitis?

There is no particular diet recommended for autoimmune hepatitis. A mix of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, lean meats, and fish works best for most people in meeting nutritional needs and maintaining a healthy weight. A diet high in fiber in particular can help your liver function at an optimal level.

Is autoimmune hepatitis contagious?

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a non-contagious, chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease in which one’s own immune system attacks healthy, normal liver cells.

Can autoimmune hepatitis go away?

In some cases, autoimmune hepatitis may go away without taking any medicines. But for most people, autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic disease. It can lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). The liver can become so badly damaged that it no longer works.

Can you exercise with autoimmune hepatitis?

Exercise — Exercise is good for overall health and is encouraged, but it has no specific benefit for people with autoimmune hepatitis.

Do autoimmune rashes go away?

There are different medications that can help treat pemphigoid (more on treatments below). For many people, the rash will go away on its own after a few years. Pemphigus is another group of rare autoimmune diseases that form blisters in the skin, but it’s very different from pemphigoid.

How long does autoimmune hepatitis last?

Once you have started treatment, it can take 6 months to a few years for the disease to go into remission. Some people can stop taking medicine, but often the disease comes back. You may need treatment now and then for the rest of your life.

Does autoimmune hepatitis run in families?

It is generally not considered an inherited disease but a tendency to autoimmune diseases may run in some families. That is, children of patients with autoimmune hepatitis may be at slightly increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases of the thyroid or liver or arthritis.

Can you fully recover from autoimmune hepatitis?

The patient usually recovers completely, but it can take up to several months. Occasionally, a person fails to recover fully, and the hepatitis becomes chronic. In other words, it continues at a smoldering pace.

Is there an early treatment for autoimmune hepatitis?

Early treatment of autoimmune hepatitis can lower the chances of developing cirrhosis and other complications. A minority of people who have no symptoms or only a mild form of the disease may or may not need medicines.

What happens if you fail to respond to treatment for autoimmune hepatitis?

Some people may fail to respond to treatment, meaning that the inflammation and liver damage of autoimmune hepatitis keep getting worse. Your doctor may recommend additional blood tests and higher doses of medicines. If liver damage leads to complications, you may need treatment for complications.

When do you need a liver transplant with autoimmune hepatitis?

If autoimmune hepatitis causes acute liver failure or cirrhosis with liver cancer or liver failure, you may need a liver transplant. This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health.

What does it mean to have autoimmune hepatitis?

Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease in which the body’s immune system attacks liver cells. This immune response causes inflammation of the liver, also called hepatitis.