An essential guide to autoimmune hepatitis, PBC, and PSC, offering expert insights, patient-friendly explanations, and practical management advice.
Patient education — AIH, PBC and PSC
Autoimmune Hepatitis and Biliary Cholangitis: A Comprehensive Guide for Patients
Autoimmune liver diseases remain unfamiliar to most people despite serious consequences. In these conditions the immune system mistakenly attacks the liver or the bile ducts. This guide explains all three — AIH, PBC and PSC — in language a patient can act on.
Authors
Prof. Seyed-Moayed Alavian, Dr. Seyede Hoda Alavian
Publisher
Publication date
April 6, 2025 (Kindle edition)
Print length
292 pages
Language
English
ISBN-13
978-90-8351-732-2; Iranian record 978-622-87808-0-1
Other edition
Audience
Patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals
Get the book
Published by Brieflands and available worldwide as a Kindle edition on Amazon. A Persian edition is also available. For institutional orders or translation rights, contact the publisher.
About this book
Among the many conditions affecting people worldwide, autoimmune liver diseases remain relatively unfamiliar to the general public — despite consequences that can be severe. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are chronic disorders in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the liver or the bile ducts, producing inflammation, progressive damage, and, untreated, irreversible liver disease.
They are uncommon relative to other liver diseases, but their impact on patients and families is profound. AIH targets liver cells, causing persistent inflammation that may progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver failure. PBC affects the small bile ducts within the liver, impairing bile flow and gradually damaging liver tissue. PSC involves inflammation and scarring of both intrahepatic and extrahepatic ducts, narrowing them and raising the risk of serious complications. Advances in medical knowledge, earlier diagnosis, and modern treatment have substantially improved the outlook — which is precisely why timely recognition matters.
Knowledge is among the most powerful tools in managing chronic disease. Understanding causes, symptoms, diagnostic methods, treatment options, and long-term management allows patients, caregivers and clinicians to make informed decisions together. Greater awareness also dispels misconception and encourages people to seek attention before irreversible damage occurs.
This book was written to make complex medical information clear, practical, and accessible. Whether you have been diagnosed with AIH, PBC or PSC, are supporting a family member, or simply want to understand these conditions, it draws on current scientific evidence and clinical experience while keeping the language understandable to readers from any background.
We dedicate this book to everyone living with autoimmune liver diseases, whose courage and resilience continue to inspire advances in research and patient care.From the preface
What the book covers
Autoimmune hepatitis
Persistent inflammation of liver cells, and its progression to fibrosis and cirrhosis.
Primary biliary cholangitis
Damage to the small intrahepatic bile ducts and impaired bile flow.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Inflammation and scarring of intrahepatic and extrahepatic ducts.
Diagnosis
How these conditions are recognised, and why early detection changes outcomes.
Treatment
Modern treatment strategies and what they can realistically achieve.
Living with the disease
Long-term management, monitoring, and working with your care team.
Important. The information in this book is for educational purposes. It is designed to increase awareness of autoimmune liver diseases and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every patient is different; immunosuppressive therapy in particular must be individualised and monitored, and should never be started, adjusted, or stopped except on the advice of a hepatologist familiar with your case.