Autoimmune hepatitis is diagnosed using blood tests and liver biopsy. The blood tests look for a variety of auto-antibodies, which are similar in ways to normal antibodies except they attack the body's own cells and tissues. For type 1, the most common circulating auto-antibodies are antinuclear antibodies (ANA). A more specific, but less prevalent auto-antibody (as compared to ANA) is the anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASMA). For type 2, the major auto-antibodies are called anti-liver-kidney microsomal-1 antibodies (ALKM-1 and ALC-1), but these are usually only found in children. Circulating levels of immunoglobulins are generally high in autoimmune hepatitis. A liver biopsy helps to confirm diagnosis and determine the degree of liver damage. Imaging tests, such as ultrasound or CT (computerized tomography) also may help detect the presence of cirrhosis, which can be caused by autoimmune hepatitis.
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