What are Autoimmune Liver Diseases?
Next to several “normal” liver diseases two autoimmune liver diseases exist, autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).
Autoimmune hepatitis: genetic predisposition or acute liver infection can lead to an immune response and the production of autoantibodies against liver structures. Autoimmune hepatitis can develop cirrhosis.
PBC is caused by the destruction of the small bile ducts in the liver, which leads to accumulation of bile followed by damages of the liver tissue.
What are the symptoms?
Autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis have similar symptoms: fatigue, itchy skin, yellowing of the eyes and skin, local collections of cholesterol in the skin, fluid retention in the abdomen.
Please note that many of these diseases are very rare.
Should you suffer from similar symptoms, please consult your physician.
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