Autoimmune Liver Diseases

Autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis are considered the most common autoimmune liver diseases. While the underlying etiopathogenesis for these disorders are considered diverse, the clinical and biochemical presentations can be similar with histological findings in some cases overlapping between disorders. The purpose of this overview is to describe advances in the diagnosis and management of autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and celiac disease affecting the liver. In addition to discussing criteria which may suggest an overlap between autoimmune hepatitis with either primary biliary cirrhosis or sclerosing cholangitis, practical approaches to therapy for individual diseases will also be presented.