Diagnosis and therapy of autoimmune liver disease.

The diagnostic criteria for autoimmune hepatitis have been codified by international consensus. Standardized clinical criteria or a scoring system that grades each relevant feature secure the diagnosis. Three types of autoimmune hepatitis have been proposed based on immunoserologic markers, but various forms exist. Multiple autoantibodies have diagnostic capability, but their clinical relevancy remains uncertain. Prednisone alone or in combination with azathioprine is effective therapy in most patients. Poor outcomes justify alternative strategies and evaluation of promising new drugs.