Autoimmune hepatitis Diagnostic of choice
Autoimmune hepatitis Microchapters |
Diagnosis |
---|
Treatment |
Case Studies |
Autoimmune hepatitis Diagnostic of choice On the Web |
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Autoimmune hepatitis Diagnostic of choice |
Risk calculators and risk factors for Autoimmune hepatitis Diagnostic of choice |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: :Manpreet Kaur, MD [2]
Overview
Diagnostic Study of Choice
Gold standard/Study of choice:
- Liver biopsy is the gold standard test for the diagnosis of Autoimmune hepatitis
- Liver biopsy is performed by following methods:
- Percutaneous liver biopsy with or without ultrasound guidance
- Transjugular liver biopsy
Histology findings usually found on biopsy:
- Interface hepatitis (ie, piecemeal necrosis) is the histological hallmark
- There is lymphoplasmacytic periportal infiltrate which invade the limiting plate
- There is an abundance of plasma cells and eosinophils are usually present
- Portal lesion spares the biliary tree
- A plasma cell infiltrate lead to plasma cell hepatitis
- Bridging necrosis
- Fibrosis
Fibrosis is present in most patients with autoimmune hepatitis. Without effective therapy, fibrosis starts to connect the portal and central areas, which ultimately leads to cirrhosis.