Chronic inflammation of the liver occurring as a sequel to hepatitis B or non-A, non-B hepatitis. The same disease may occur in congenital or acquired hypogammaglobulinemia, or in association with the administration of certain drugs. It is characterized by infiltration of portal areas by plasma cells and macrophages, piecemeal necrosis (destruction of hepatocytes in the periphery of lobules), and fibrosis. The course is highly variable; there may be long asymptomatic periods interspersed with periods of symptomatic hepatitis with malaise, jaundice fever, and anorexia; there may be extrahepatic manifestations, including amenorrhea, arthritis, thyroiditis, skin rashes, vasculitis, glomerulonephritis ulcerative colitis, and Sjogren's syndrome; or the disease may progress to cirrhosis and liver failure. Autoimmune pathogenesis is suspected. Also called autoimmune hepatitis, chronic aggressive hepatitis, plasma cell hepatitis, lupoid hepatitis, subacute hepatitis, and acute juvenile cirrhosis.