October is National Liver Awareness Month!
In honor of National Liver Awareness Month, the Autoimmune Registry is focusing on autoimmune liver diseases. Autoimmune liver disease occurs when the immune system attacks liver cells, and can sometimes lead to liver failure. Depending on the type and severity of liver disease, treatments can vary from steroids and immunosuppressive therapy to liver transplants.
The three most common autoimmune liver diseases are autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis. These liver diseases may present simultaneously with various other autoimmune diseases such as Grave's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, Sjogren's syndrome, type 1 diabetes, and more.
According to the All of Us Database*, out of the 466 patients with autoimmune hepatitis, the most common comorbidities are systemic lupus erythematosus (13.9%), rheumatoid arthritis (10.9%), and Sjogren's (10.7%). For primary biliary cholangitis, out of 291 patients, the most common comorbidities are Sjogren's (10%), fibromyalgia (10%), and ulcerative colitis (9.3%). As for primary sclerosing cholangitis, out of 123 patients, the most common comorbidities are ulcerative colitis (54.5%) and Crohn's disease (32.5%).
In other news, the Autoimmune Registry has been working with MyPath's Story Booth project to collect stories from autoimmune disease patients. We have collected over 50 autoimmune disease stories so far and are working on creating a special collections page for autoimmune diseases. We are looking for an expert in the field of immunology or rheumatology to help us make a 3-minute reaction video to some of the stories. If you are a rheumatologist or physician who treats autoimmune diseases and are interested, please feel free to reply to this email.
To support the Autoimmune Registry, please join our registry or share it with a friend who has an autoimmune condition. Donations are also greatly appreciated!
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*“The All of Us Research Program is supported by the National Institutes of Health, Office of the Director: Regional Medical Centers: 1 OT2 OD026549; 1 OT2 OD026554; 1 OT2 OD026557; 1 OT2 OD026556; 1 OT2 OD026550; 1 OT2 OD 026552; 1 OT2 OD026553; 1 OT2 OD026548; 1 OT2 OD026551; 1 OT2 OD026555; IAA #: AOD 16037; Federally Qualified Health Centers: HHSN 263201600085U; Data and Research Center: 5 U2C OD023196; Biobank: 1 U24 OD023121; The Participant Center: U24 OD023176; Participant Technology Systems Center: 1 U24 OD023163; Communications and Engagement: 3 OT2 OD023205; 3 OT2 OD023206; and Community Partners: 1 OT2 OD025277; 3 OT2 OD025315; 1 OT2 OD025337; 1 OT2 OD025276. In addition, the All of Us Research Program would not be possible without the partnership of its participants.”
