Rheumatic Manifestations in Autoimmune Liver Disease

Abstract

Autoimmune liver diseases coexist with rheumatic disorders in approximately 30% of cases and may also share pathogenic mechanisms. Autoimmune liver diseases result from an immune-mediated injury of different tissues, with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) targeting hepatocytes, and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis targeting cholangiocytes. Sjogren syndrome is diagnosed in 7% of AIH cases and serologic autoimmunity profiles are a common laboratory abnormality, particularly in the case of serum antimitochondrial (PBC) or anti-liver kidney microsomal antibodies (AIH). Therapeutic strategies may overlap between rheumatic and autoimmune liver diseases and practitioners should be vigilant in managing bone loss.

Keywords: Autoantibody; Autoimmune comorbidity; Cholangitis; Hepatitis; Immune tolerance; Methotrexate; Osteoporosis; Personalized medicine.