Autoimmune Conditions
Autoimmune liver disease treatment in Dubai
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Delivering Expert, Compassionate Treatment for Complex Liver Conditions
At King’s Liver Transplant Centre of Excellence, we understand the complex challenges of autoimmune liver disease. These conditions occur when the body’s immune system, designed to protect against foreign invaders, mistakenly attacks healthy liver cells or bile ducts.
This abnormal immune response causes inflammation and liver damage, which, if not addressed, may advance to cirrhosis and eventually result in liver failure.
Our multidisciplinary team of world-class hepatologists, gastroenterologists, immunologists, and liver transplant surgeons provides comprehensive, cutting-edge care for patients with autoimmune liver disease in Dubai.
We are committed to accurate diagnosis, effective management, and, when necessary, life-saving liver transplantation, ensuring you receive the highest personalised care.
Understanding Autoimmune Liver Diseases
Autoimmune liver diseases encompass a group of chronic conditions where the immune system’s dysregulation directly targets the liver. The underlying cause is usually unknown, but an interplay between genetic susceptibility and environmental stimuli is thought to be responsible.
These conditions can significantly impair liver function, impacting overall health and quality of life. The most common types of autoimmune liver diseases include:
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH): This condition involves inflammation of the liver cells. AIH can affect people of all ages, though it is more common in women.
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC): In PBC, the immune system slowly destroys the small bile ducts within the liver. Bile, essential for digestion, then backs up, causing damage to liver cells. PBC is more commonly diagnosed in women over 40.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC): This is a rarer condition where inflammation and scarring occur in the bile ducts inside and outside the liver.
This scarring causes the ducts to narrow and eventually block, accumulating bile and liver damage. PSC is more commonly diagnosed in men in their 30s and 40s and is often associated with inflammatory bowel disease.
Overlap Syndromes: Certain individuals may present with characteristics of more than one autoimmune liver disease, that is, a combination of autoimmune hepatitis and PBC or PSC.
Autoimmune liver disease symptoms and diagnosis
The symptoms of autoimmune liver disease can vary widely and may be non-specific, making early diagnosis challenging. Common symptoms can include:
- Profound fatigue and weakness
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Itching (pruritus)
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Joint pain or swelling
- Nausea and loss of appetite
- Dark urine and pale stools
- Enlarged liver or spleen (detectable on examination)
Diagnosis at King’s Liver Transplant Centre of Excellence involves a thorough process, including:
Comprehensive medical history and physical examination: To understand your symptoms and overall health.
Blood tests: To assess liver function (liver enzymes, bilirubin), detect specific autoantibodies (e.g., ANAs, ASMAs, AMAs, LKM-1), and rule out other causes of liver disease.
Imaging studies: Ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI can be employed to image the liver and bile ducts and assess for inflammation or damage. MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography) is particularly useful for evaluating bile ducts.
Liver biopsy: A tiny piece of liver tissue is removed for microscopic assessment. This is often crucial for confirming the diagnosis, determining the type of autoimmune liver disease, and assessing the extent of liver damage and fibrosis.
Autoimmune Liver Disease Treatment in Dubai
The primary goal of autoimmune liver disease treatment in Dubai at King’s Liver Transplant Centre of Excellence is to suppress the immune system’s abnormal activity, reduce inflammation, slow disease progression, and manage symptoms.
Treatment regimens are very personalised and will vary depending on the exact type of autoimmune liver disease, its severity, and general health of the patient.
Treatment options often include:
Immunosuppressive medications: Corticosteroids (e.g., Prednisone) are often the first-line treatment to reduce inflammation and immune system activity rapidly. Doses are typically tapered down once symptoms are controlled.
Azathioprine (Imuran): Often prescribed in conjunction with corticosteroids to allow for lower steroid doses, minimising side effects, and for long-term maintenance therapy.
Other immunosuppressants: Other medications may be used depending on the specific condition and response to initial therapy.
Medications for symptom management: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) may improve bile flow and reduce liver damage for conditions like PBC and PSC. Other drugs may be prescribed to alleviate itching or fatigue.
Lifestyle modifications: To support liver health, patients are advised to avoid alcohol, maintain a healthy weight, and follow a balanced diet. Hepatitis A and B vaccinations are also administered to keep the liver safe from further viral attacks.
Monitoring and follow-up: Regular monitoring of liver function, immune markers, and imaging studies is crucial to assess treatment effectiveness, adjust medication dosages, and detect any disease progression.
Liver transplantation for advanced autoimmune liver disease
For patients with autoimmune liver disease who develop advanced liver damage (cirrhosis) that leads to liver failure or whose disease does not respond adequately to medical therapy, a liver transplant may become the necessary and often life-saving option.
At King’s Liver Transplant Centre of Excellence, we offer comprehensive evaluation for liver transplantation.
Our highly trained specialists will walk you through each phase of the transplant process, from initial evaluation and listing to the transplant itself and meticulous post-transplant treatment. We aim to restore liver function and significantly improve your quality of life.
Why choose King's Liver Transplant Centre of Excellence for Autoimmune Liver Disease Treatment in Dubai?
King’s Liver Transplant Centre of Excellence in Dubai offers expert, compassionate care for patients with complex liver conditions, including autoimmune liver diseases.
With a strong focus on integrated, patient-centred care, we ensure every individual and their family feel informed and supported throughout their journey. If you’re experiencing liver-related symptoms or have been diagnosed with an autoimmune liver condition, contact us today for a specialist consultation.
FAQs
While not as common as viral hepatitis, autoimmune liver diseases are significant chronic conditions. Autoimmune hepatitis is the most prevalent among them, affecting more women than men.
Currently, there is no definitive cure for most autoimmune liver diseases. However, the goal of autoimmune liver disease treatment in Dubai is to control the immune response, reduce inflammation, and prevent or slow down liver damage, often leading to long-term remission and a good quality of life.
Most patients with autoimmune liver disease require long-term, often lifelong, immunosuppressive therapy to prevent relapse and control the disease. Regular monitoring helps in adjusting medication doses to the lowest practical level.
While diet and lifestyle changes are not a primary treatment, they play an important supportive role. Avoiding alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a balanced diet can help reduce stress on the liver and improve overall health.
A liver transplant is typically considered for patients whose autoimmune liver disease has progressed to irreversible liver failure (cirrhosis that the liver cannot recover from) or for those whose disease does not respond adequately to standard medical treatments and continues to worsen.
