Long-term follow-up of chronic active hepatitis of moderate severity.
Open Access
- 1 June 1978
- Vol. 19 (6), 510-513
- https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.19.6.510
Abstract
A group of patients with only moderately active chronic hepatitis has been studied. The follow-up was long (mean 87 months). All patients except one were treated with prednisone and/or azathioprine. Of the hepatitis B virus positive patients two-thirds developed cirrhosis between the second and fifth year of evolution, while in the hepatitis B negative group this occurred in less than one-third. The transition to cirrhosis was clinically silent. The patients were all allowed to do their normal work except in the terminal stages of cirrhosis. Five patients died of causes related to the disease: three patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, one with gallbladder carcinoma, and one from bleeding varices. The high incidence of tumour, especially liver-cell carcinoma, may be due to a cumulative effect of the presence of hepatitis B virus, cirrhotic transformation, and immuno-suppression. The other patients are currently in apparently good health.Keywords
This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit:
- Distribution patterns of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the liver of hepatitis patients.Journal of Clinical Pathology, 1976
- Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the liver of patients with hepatitis; a comparison with serological detection.Journal of Clinical Pathology, 1976
- DETECTION OF HEPATITIS-B ANTIGEN BY RADIOIMMUNOASSAY IN CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE AND HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA IN GREAT BRITAINThe Lancet, 1973
- Protracted and Recurrent Forms of Viral HepatitisArchives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 1972
- HEPATITIS-ASSOCIATED ANTIGEN IN CHRONIC LIVER DISEASEThe Lancet, 1970
- Active chronic hepatitisAmerican Journal Of Medicine, 1970
- HEPATITIS-ASSOCIATED ANTIGEN IN CHRONIC LIVER DISEASEThe Lancet, 1969
- AUSTRALIA ANTIGEN IN ACUTE AND CHRONIC LIVER DISEASEThe Lancet, 1969
- Primary hepatoma in UgandaAmerican Journal Of Medicine, 1969
- A CLASSIFICATION OF CHRONIC HEPATITISThe Lancet, 1968