© 2010 Brighton Collaboration
A chronic disease of unknown cause, characterized by continuing hepatocellular inflammation and necrosis, which tends to progress to cirrhosis. Autoimmune chronic active hepatitis is a chronic necroinflammatory hepatitis of unknown etiology, characterized histologically by a dense mononuclear infiltrate in the portal tracts and serologically by antibodies against liver-specific and non-liver-specific antigens and increased immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels. Autoimmune hepatitis may present as acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis or well-established cirrhosis. Some cases of drug-induced liver disease may have an immune-mediated basis. The clinical picture may share features with acute viral hepatitis and can be distinguished from these upon testing for ASMA and ANA and possibly liver biopsy.