Autoimmune diseases of the liver.

A loss of tolerance against autologous liver tissue is regarded as the principal pathogenetic mechanism in autoimmune liver disease. Autoimmune type chronic hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis are the three major autoimmune liver diseases. This article discusses recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. Topics include diagnosis and classification, clinical features and pathology, etiology and pathogenesis, immunogenetics, and therapy.