Autoinmune Hepatitis treatment at the Clínic

Barcelona Hospital Clínic has a specialist consultancy for autoimmune and cholestatic liver diseases; it cares for over 400 people with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and diagnoses over 30 new cases each year.  

The centre is part of the European Reference Network on Rare Liver Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), which brings together hospitals across Europe to provide highly specialist treatments and to share expertise. This participation has resulted in the Clínic being recognised as a European reference centre for the management of AIH. It also collaborates in numerous clinical studies aimed at improving patient treatment and quality of life. 

The team is made up of clinical hepatology specialists with extensive experience in managing this condition. Their approach is based on personalised care, adapting treatment to each patient’s characteristics and needs, while maintaining close follow-up to ensure remission and detect possible long-term treatment complications. 

Patients are seen either in person or online, with regular visits every three to four months. The group also has expertise in managing refractory cases (those that do not respond to standard therapy); offering advanced therapeutic options which are available only at specialist centres such as the Clínic. 

As a liver transplant centre, the Hospital Clínic also provides support for people with decompensated cirrhosis or acute liver failure who may require a transplant. The team is also trained to manage severe or acute-onset cases that require urgent, specialised care. 

Finally, the group promotes patient involvement in their care process. To this end, it organises meetings and events where patients can share experiences, ask questions and help improve AIH-related healthcare services.