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Spectrum of liver pathology in immune mediated liver diseases
Author(s) -
BURT ALASTAIR D
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2004.03647.x
Subject(s) - autoimmune hepatitis , medicine , primary biliary cirrhosis , primary sclerosing cholangitis , context (archaeology) , immunology , liver disease , immune system , cirrhosis , autoimmune disease , hepatitis , disease , pathology , gastroenterology , biology , paleontology
Immune mechanisms are involved in a wide range of parenchymal liver diseases and are of particular importance in conditions where the pathogenesis appears to be related to loss of tolerance to self antigens. In the liver there are two classical ‘autoimmune’ conditions: primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis. It is increasingly apparent however that these may represent ends of a spectrum and overlap syndromes are well recognised. Furthermore there is evidence that primary sclerosing cholangitis may be a further example of autoimmune liver disease and overlpa conditions between this and autoimmune hepatitis are described. Histopathological assessment remains an important diagnostic tool in the investigation of autoimmune liver disease, particularly in the context of outlier and overlap conditions.