Life Expectancy With Autoimmune Hepatitis

The life expectancy with autoimmune hepatitis can vary from one person to the next. People who do not have a lot of disease on liver biopsy, and who do well with medications, may do well for years and years -- and potentially have a life expectancy unaffected by their liver disease. But people with severe cases of autoimmune hepatitis can develop liver failure and possibly need a liver transplant. It is important to keep in mind that a healthcare provider cannot know exactly what to expect for a particular person's prognosis.

 

What Is the Life Expectancy With Autoimmune Hepatitis? -- An Overview

People who are facing
 autoimmune hepatitis are naturally concerned about what their future holds. Understandably, many people want to know more about their prognosis and life expectancy.
 
One important thing to keep in mind when considering prognosis and life expectancy with autoimmune hepatitis is that the disease can vary enormously in its severity and behavior. It is often thought that no two people have the same disease. Also, a prognosis is a medical opinion about the likely course and outcome the disease -- it is not an absolute fact. The doctor cannot be absolutely certain about the outcome for a particular patient.
 
When doctors discuss a person's prognosis, they carefully consider all of the factors that could affect that person's disease and treatment, and then try to predict what might happen. The doctor will base the autoimmune hepatitis prognosis on information researchers have collected over many years about hundreds or even thousands of people with autoimmune hepatitis. When possible, the doctor will use statistics based on groups of people whose situations are most similar to that of an individual patient's.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD