Question: What are the symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis?
Answer: People with autoimmune hepatitis may have some of the following symptoms

feeling tired
joint pain
nausea
poor appetite
pain over theliver, in the upper part of theabdomen
yellowish color of the whites of the eyes and skin, calledjaundice
darkening of the color ofurine
lightening of the color ofstools
skin conditions, such asrash,psoriasis,vitiligo, oracne

If you have symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis, they can range from mild to severe.

Many people with autoimmune hepatitis have no symptoms. In such cases, doctors may find you have signs of liver problems during routine blood tests, and this may lead to a diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis. People without symptoms at diagnosis may develop symptoms later.

Some people with autoimmune hepatitis don’t have symptoms until they develop complications due to cirrhosis. These symptoms include

feeling tired or weak
losing weight without trying
swelling of the abdomen from a buildup of fluid, calledascites
swelling of the lower legs, ankles, or feet, callededema
itchy skin
jaundice
vomitingblood if cirrhosis leads to enlargedveinsin theesophagus, called esophageal varices, and those varices burst
confusion or difficulty thinking if cirrhosis leads to a buildup of toxins in the brain, calledhepatic encephalopathy
Question: What causes autoimmune hepatitis?
Answer: Experts aren’t sure what causes autoimmune hepatitis. Studies suggest that certain genes make some people more likely to develop autoimmune diseases. In people with these genes, factors in the environment may trigger an autoimmune reaction that causes their immune system to attack the liver.

Researchers are still studying the environmental triggers that play a role in autoimmune hepatitis. These triggers may include certain viruses and medicines.

Some medicines can cause liver injury that resembles autoimmune hepatitis. In most cases, the liver injury goes away when the medicine is stopped. Telling your doctor the names of all the medicines you take, even over-the-counter medicines or herbal or botanical products, is important.