Autoimmune Hepatitis and Pregnancy

  I am a 26 year old female who has been living with autoimmune hepatitis for 9 years. I have been taking prednisone and immuran since I was diagnosed. I recently had to have a spleanal reneal shunt done for esophageal bleeding. I am now in good health with the exception of the autoimmune hepatitis. My husband and I would very much like to have a baby and I would think I should do it while I am still feeling well and not taking heavy doses of medication. I know that I will need a liver transplant and that after it I will be taking much more medication. I can not find any information about my condition related to pregnancy. I would like to know if I can pass this disease on to my baby? Will being pregnant harm me? Due to the medication I take I do not regularly menstrate. What would be the best way for me to get pregnant?

[HFHSM.D.-D.M.]

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Dear Sabrina:
I appreciate your questions.  Unfortunately they are very difficult ones.  I understand that you are a 26 year old woman with autoimmune hepatitis since the age of 9 and you have been taking prednisone and imuran since diagnosis.  You state that you are not taking heavy doses of medication and you feel well but, there is a suggestion that you may have somewhat advanced disease because you recently had a spleno-renal shunt for variceal bleeding.  You want to know whether the pregnancy will harm you,  what  is the best way to get pregnant, and whether you will pass the condition on to your child.
I

[adri01]

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