AutoImmune Hepatits

My sister in law died from AutoImmune Hepatitis. My husband and her had only the same father. Is there a type of blood test that my husband can take to see if he is a carrier, so I will know for future times with our children. I know that there is some type of genetic link with this type of hepatitis.
please let me know.

[TnHepGuy_]

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss.

<a href="http://janis7hepc.com/autoimmune_hepatitis.htm">Here</a> is a webpage that has some information on autoimmune hepatitis.

Hopefully there is someone here at MedHelp who can offer some personal insight.


TnHepGuy

[KathleenG]

Hi,

I am very sorry for your loss.  Autoimmune diseases are genetically linked but one specific autoimmune disease doesn't necessarily run in family - meaning that if you have a particular autoimmune disease (say AIH), your doctor will probably ask you about family history of other autoimmune diseases, and you may have an aunt with rhuematoid arthritis, a cousin with systemic lupus, etc. (you all have autoimmune diseases but not necessarily the same one).  That said, you can have genetic markers checked to see if an individual has a predisposition to autoimmune disease (this doesn't mean that person will necessarily develop one but it is an indicator that there is a predisposition - and environmental factors can end up triggering the onset of an autoimmune disease).  Talk with your doctor to see about testing for markers.  Best wishes...