Autoimmune Hepatitis

[Sarad]

After a liver biopsy I have been diagnosed with:
chronic hepatitis with marked interface component and bridging fibrosis.
I was wondering if there are any sexual diseases that may be transfered to my partner
because of my liver problems?
I also have Ulcerlative colitis.

[joachim2007]

if the diagnosis is definitely auto immune hepatitis (AIH), then it is clear that this disease is not commutable.

the potential for this disease to become active is encoded in your genome, which means you are born with a generic predisposition that this form of hepatitis may develop at some point in your life. Your partner most likely does not have this congential tendency, and therefore does not have to fear this nonviral AIH at all, and it cannot be transmitted to him,

Altough is is speculated that certain bacteria, viruses, toxins trigger an autoimmune response in people who are genetically susceptible to developing an autoimmune disorder (that's how it may have broken out in you), it is pretty clear that those bacteria/viruses/toxins do NOT trigger any disease in people who do not have the genetic predisposition for AIH.

So, the important thing is to
- make sure that AIH is indeed the correct diagnosis
- and that there is no overlap (e.g. to the well known viral ones, but for those you surely tested already negative i suspect)
- so perhaps the only thing to check would be that your partner is negative for viral hepatitis too, and is vacciniated, so that your risk of getting a second liver disease is zero.

I hope you get treatd by a knowledgeable doctor, and wish you a good recovery from the hepatitis, or that it gets de-activated by medication

best,
Joachim

[CMcH]

You sound knowledgeable, how common is it for a mother to pass this on to her children? I had a C-section with twins at Stanford and at first there was some debate on whether or not to breast feed. Finally a specialist came in and said it was OK. Could my children have a genetic predisposition to Hep C as you mentioned above?

[joachim2007]

hi CMcH,

well i am a total layman, and you should definitely only trust certified & experienced doctors on that matter.

But indeed, the CDC says breast feeding is not a risk for HCV transmission:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/resource/PDFs/c_prevent.pdf

And, i think you do not have to worry that your children will pick up HCV more easily than other people. In the end, it's a *blood borne* disease, and as long as no blood of somebody else enters their blood streams, they are not at risk at all. They will not get HCV "on their own".

And regarding a  predisposition of getting "chronic" HCV if the blood-to-blood exposure really happens, well, it seems that the majority of people (i guess 70%) are prone to developing chronic Hep C. But again, this is only relevant if a blood-to-bood exposure with HCV infected blood happens, which we'll hope simply will not happen!

[rockmelon44]

I have just been diagnosed with AIH waiting on liver biopsy . would love to talk to anyone

[Sarad]

When is your biopsy? Really you have nothing to be scared of, it doesn't hurt and is quite fast. I know it sound scarey but this is the only way you will get the answeres you need. There is another forum under Auto immune where there are a few of us always supporting eachother get on it, it will help you I know it's helping me. Good luck and let us know when yor biopsy is.
sarad