AUTOIMMUNE HEPATITIS IN THE YEAR 2000

Key words: Anti-LKM1 antibodies, Anti-SMA antibodies, Autoimmune hepatitis, Giant-cell hepatitis, Sclerosing cholangitis, Coeliac disease

Diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AH) is based on: exclusion of viral genetic or tossic etiology, presence of non-organ-specific antibodies (SMA, ANA or LKM1); increased G immunoglobulin, typical histological features; response to immunosuppressive therapy, severity and immunogenetic background. 21 cases, observed over 20 years, are reported. They represent different types of AH: type 1, isolated (or lupoid, SMA positive); type 2, LKM1 positive, often associated with autoimmune polyglandular syndromes; coeliac hepatitis (or idyopatic hypertransaminasaemia); type 1 AH associated to coeliac disease; giantcell hepatitis, Coombs test positive; AH following liver transplantation (de novo hepatitis); autoimmune cholangitis associated with chronic inflammatory bowel disease.