Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSelf-Checks/At-Home TestingPhysical ExaminationLabs and TestsImagingDifferential DiagnosisFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Self-Checks/At-Home Testing
Physical Examination
Labs and Tests
Imaging
Differential Diagnosis
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no one test to diagnose autoimmune hepatitis. The diagnostic process usually involves a physical exam, detailed history, lab tests, imaging studies, and a liver biopsy.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
There is no home test to diagnose autoimmune hepatitis, but it is helpful to be aware of the common symptoms of the disease, which can include:
Your appointment with your doctor will most likely start with a detailed history and physical exam. Yourliveris located on the right side of your abdomen just under the ribcage. Your doctor will palpate your abdomen to determine if your liver feels enlarged. An enlarged liver is a sign of inflammation of the liver, also known as hepatitis.
Your doctor will ask several questions about the symptoms you have been experiencing. Be prepared to answer questions about when they started and how severe they feel.
Your doctor will also ask about your medical history. Certain autoimmune conditions have been associated with an increased risk of autoimmune hepatitis. Your doctor may ask if you or your family members have been diagnosed with:
Types of Hepatitis
Once your doctor has performed a physical exam and asked for a detailed health history, they will likely order blood tests. These tests can tell you if your liver is inflamed or has been damaged.
Blood tests used to diagnose autoimmune hepatitis include:
Hepatologist vs. Gastroenterologist
If any of your blood tests come back abnormal, the next step may be to order imaging tests to visualize your liver. To view your liver, your doctor may recommend aCT scan, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
If your doctor strongly suspects that you have autoimmune hepatitis, the last step in the diagnostic process is to obtain a liver biopsy. The doctor will remove small tissue samples from your liver with a needle.
These samples are then sent to the lab to be studied under a microscope. This test can help your medical team determine which kind of liver disease you have.They can also determine if you have any evidence of long-term damage or fibrosis in the liver.
During the diagnostic process, your medical team will work to rule out other possible causes for your symptoms and lab findings. Other types of liver disease and chronic conditions may present with similar signs as autoimmune hepatitis, so it is important to rule them out before proceeding with treatment.
Other forms of liver disease may also have similar symptoms to autoimmune hepatitis. Your medical team will rule out the following liver diseases during your workup:
How to Prepare for Your First Appointment With a HepatologistThink through the questions that the doctor may ask you. Schedule some time to sit down and take notes before the appointment. Write down each of your symptoms and how long they have been going on. Think about any family members who have a history of liver disease or autoimmune conditions, and write them down as well. Finally, create a list of all of the medications, vitamins, and supplements you are currently taking.
How to Prepare for Your First Appointment With a Hepatologist
Think through the questions that the doctor may ask you. Schedule some time to sit down and take notes before the appointment. Write down each of your symptoms and how long they have been going on. Think about any family members who have a history of liver disease or autoimmune conditions, and write them down as well. Finally, create a list of all of the medications, vitamins, and supplements you are currently taking.
Summary
There is no one test to diagnose autoimmune hepatitis. Your doctor will have to rule out other conditions in a process of elimination to arrive at the accurate diagnosis. They will order liver enzymes and liver function tests to see whether there is inflammation in your liver. They will also order tests that detect certain antibodies that have been associated with autoimmune hepatitis. If your doctor thinks you may have autoimmune hepatitis, they will also order imaging and a liver biopsy to better understand your condition.
A Word From Verywell
If you are currently going through the diagnosis process for autoimmune hepatitis, you’re most likely feeling anxious, confused, and frustrated. This is an incredibly challenging time, and taking things one day at a time is important.
During this process, expect to undergo a physical exam, blood tests, and possibly a liver biopsy. Your doctor will also need to ask several questions about your health and family history. Once you have been diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, the next step will be to sit down with your hepatologist to determine your treatment plan.
What happens after being diagnosed with AIH?
After you have been diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, your doctor will sit down with you to develop a treatment plan. If you are not already seeing a liver specialist, who is known as ahepatologist, you will be referred to one.
Can an autoimmune hepatitis diagnosis be something else?
Some symptoms and lab findings found in autoimmune hepatitis are also common in other chronic conditions. Your medical team will work to rule out any other possible causes for your symptoms. Some diseases to rule out include other types of hepatitis, certain viral infections, and other liver conditions such as steatotic liver disease.
What tests are used to diagnose autoimmune hepatitis?
Is an AIH diagnosis fatal?
If left untreated, autoimmune hepatitis could be fatal. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to achieving a good prognosis.
For individuals who respond positively to treatment, the 10-year survival rate is about 83.8% to 94%. Without any treatment, 40% to 50% of individuals with severe autoimmune hepatitis will die within six months to five years.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Autoimmune hepatitis.Czaja AJ.Diagnosis and management of autoimmune hepatitis: current status and future directions.Gut Liver. 10(2):177-203. doi:10.5009/gnl15352John Hopkins Medicine.Autoimmune hepatitis.MedlinePlus.Autoimmune hepatitis.Cleveland Clinic.Autoimmune hepatitis.Manns MP, Lohse AW, Vergani D.Autoimmune hepatitis—update 2015.J Hepatol. 62(1 Suppl):S100-S11. doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2015.03.005MedlinePlus.Liver diseases.Cleveland Clinic.Autoimmune hepatitis.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Autoimmune hepatitis.Czaja AJ.Diagnosis and management of autoimmune hepatitis: current status and future directions.Gut Liver. 10(2):177-203. doi:10.5009/gnl15352John Hopkins Medicine.Autoimmune hepatitis.MedlinePlus.Autoimmune hepatitis.Cleveland Clinic.Autoimmune hepatitis.Manns MP, Lohse AW, Vergani D.Autoimmune hepatitis—update 2015.J Hepatol. 62(1 Suppl):S100-S11. doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2015.03.005MedlinePlus.Liver diseases.Cleveland Clinic.Autoimmune hepatitis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Autoimmune hepatitis.Czaja AJ.Diagnosis and management of autoimmune hepatitis: current status and future directions.Gut Liver. 10(2):177-203. doi:10.5009/gnl15352John Hopkins Medicine.Autoimmune hepatitis.MedlinePlus.Autoimmune hepatitis.Cleveland Clinic.Autoimmune hepatitis.Manns MP, Lohse AW, Vergani D.Autoimmune hepatitis—update 2015.J Hepatol. 62(1 Suppl):S100-S11. doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2015.03.005MedlinePlus.Liver diseases.Cleveland Clinic.Autoimmune hepatitis.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Autoimmune hepatitis.
Czaja AJ.Diagnosis and management of autoimmune hepatitis: current status and future directions.Gut Liver. 10(2):177-203. doi:10.5009/gnl15352
John Hopkins Medicine.Autoimmune hepatitis.
MedlinePlus.Autoimmune hepatitis.
Cleveland Clinic.Autoimmune hepatitis.
Manns MP, Lohse AW, Vergani D.Autoimmune hepatitis—update 2015.J Hepatol. 62(1 Suppl):S100-S11. doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2015.03.005
MedlinePlus.Liver diseases.
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