Young Woman's Mystery Liver Illness Finally Diagnosed

A young woman's junior year of college was interrupted by a mysterious and severe liver ailment. Initially presenting with jaundice, elevated liver enzymes, and abdominal pain, her condition baffled her initial medical providers. Diagnostic efforts included blood tests, endoscopy, colonoscopy, and a liver biopsy, which revealed severe inflammation but no clear cause.

Further investigation by a liver specialist pointed towards autoimmune hepatitis, a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the liver. This diagnosis came despite a negative result on a common autoimmune marker test. Treatment began with prednisone, a steroid that quickly showed positive results, normalizing bilirubin levels and reducing liver enzymes.

Seven years later, the patient has regained her health and normal appearance. While she still experiences occasional abdominal pain, her autoimmune disease is managed with prednisone, though finding a combination of medications to allow her to stop the steroid has been a slow process. She is now married, has a career, and plans to start a family, demonstrating resilience in living with her condition.