Germs were found to cause several diseases originally thought to be autoimmune. Allergens cause others. Many more may be uncovered. Autoimmunity is often believed to originate with a virus infection. A chemical in the virus resembles a body chemical so closely that the immune system attacks both.
Autoimmune hepatitis is similiar to viral hepatitis, a disease of the liver.
It can be an acute disease that kills over a third of its victims within six months, it can persist for years, or it can return periodically. Some patients develop cirrhosis of the liver which, over time, causes the liver to cease functioning. Patients who develop autoimmune hepatitis experience pain under the right ribs, fatigue and general discomfort, loss of appetite, nausea, sometimes vomiting and jaundice . In addition, other parts of the body may be involved and contribute their own symptoms. Diagnosis Extensive laboratory testing may be required to differentiate this disease from viral hepatitis.