Autoimmune Hepatitis
What is autoimmune hepatitis?
‘Autoimmune’ is made of two words- ‘auto’ +’immune’- implying altered immunity to cells of one’s own body. Immune system normally recognises ‘self ‘and ‘non-self’ cells. It kills only the ‘non-self’ cells. When there is an alteration in the immune system, it loses this ability to differentiate ‘self’ from ‘non self’; and kills ‘self’ cells.
When such attack of the immune system involves cells of liver, it causes Autoimmune Hepatitis. It may occur as only hepatitis or may occur as a part of other autoimmune diseases.