2. Introduction:
AIH is a liver disease characterised by necrotico-inflammatory lesions of
hepatocytes, the presence of specific autoantibodies& response to CSs.
AIH must be considered in any patient with acute or chronic liver disease.
As there is no pathognomonic sign of AIH, the diagnosis is based on a
combination of clinical, biological, immunological&histological findings,
after excluding other causes of liver disease.
The clinical/biological presentation is variable& can be associated with an
autoimmune biliary disease, primary biliary cholangitis or primary
sclerosing cholangitis in an overlap syndrome, so diagnosis is challenging.
Even if liver histology remains essential in the diagnosis, non-invasive tests
can be used at different steps of the management of AIH:
Diagnosis of AIH, diagnosis of an overlap syndrome, assessing severity,
searching for extra-hepatic disease frequently associated to AIH,
evaluation of response to therapy, decision of treatment withdrawal.