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By Mayo Clinic staffSigns and symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis can range from minor to severe and may come on suddenly or develop over time. Some people have few, if any, problems in the early stages of the disease, whereas others experience signs and symptoms that may include:
- Anemia
- Fatigue
- Abdominal discomfort
- Joint aches (arthralgias)
- Itching (pruritus)
- Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- An enlarged liver
- Abnormal blood vessels on the skin (spider angiomas)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Liver scarring (cirrhosis)
- Fluid in the abdomen (ascites)
- Mental confusion
It's common for people with autoimmune hepatitis to have other autoimmune disorders, such as:
- Hemolytic anemia, which occurs when red blood cells are destroyed faster than bone marrow can replace them
- Chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland (thyroiditis)
- Inflammation of the colon (ulcerative colitis)
- Diabetes
- Dry eyes and mouth (Sjogren's syndrome)
- Celiac sprue, a condition that damages the small intestine and leads to an inability to absorb certain nutrients