AIH: Understanding Autoimmune Hepatitis Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options

When your immune system turns on your own liver, that’s AIH, a chronic condition where the body mistakenly attacks liver cells, leading to inflammation and potential scarring. Also known as autoimmune hepatitis, it doesn’t come from alcohol or viruses—it’s your own defenses going rogue. Unlike hepatitis caused by infection, AIH is silent until damage builds up. Many people feel fine for years, then suddenly get exhausted, jaundiced, or notice their abdomen swelling. It’s not rare—it affects about 1 in 100,000 people—and women are diagnosed more often than men, especially between ages 15 and 40.

Autoimmune disorders, conditions where the immune system attacks healthy tissue like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or type 1 diabetes often show up alongside AIH. If you have one, your risk for AIH goes up. And it’s not just genetics—environmental triggers like certain medications, viruses, or even toxins can flip the switch in people who are genetically prone. The liver doesn’t heal well under constant attack, so without treatment, AIH can lead to cirrhosis or liver failure. That’s why early diagnosis matters. Blood tests for specific antibodies and a liver biopsy are the gold standards for confirming it.

Liver inflammation, the core problem in AIH doesn’t always cause pain, but it does cause fatigue, dark urine, joint aches, and skin rashes. Some people lose weight without trying. Others notice their skin or eyes turning yellow. These signs are easy to ignore—until they’re not. Treatment usually starts with steroids like prednisone to calm the immune system, often paired with azathioprine to reduce side effects and keep the disease in check long-term. It’s not a cure, but it can stop the damage and let the liver recover. Many people live normal lives once the inflammation is under control.

You’ll find real-world stories here—how people caught AIH early, what treatments worked, what didn’t, and how lifestyle changes made a difference. We cover drug interactions, what to watch for during treatment, and why some people need liver transplants. There’s no fluff, no guesswork—just what the data says and how real patients manage it day to day.