Autoimmune liver disease is more common in women than men. It is one of the more difficult diseases to treat effectively. In general it leads to an acute hepatitis.
Most patients are anti-smooth muscle antibody positive with significantly elevated immunoglobulin G and anti-nuclear factor, and liver function tests improve with steroids. Some patients require specialised testing at the Sheffield reference lab.
Treatment is with steroids (prednisolone) ± azthiorine subject to TPMT testing.