Liver Cirrhosis: A Seven Year Follow-Up

The status of 121 patients who were found to have liver cirrhosis on liver biopsy in 1981 was assessed seven years later. The etiology of the cirrhosis was alcoholic in 52%, cryptogenic in 29.8%, hepatitis B-related in 9.1% and miscellaneous in 9.1%. In 1981, jaundice was present in 55 patients (45....

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Main Authors: TS Paul Tran, S Victor Feinman, Barnet Berris
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1991-01-01
Series:Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1991/491483
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author TS Paul Tran
S Victor Feinman
Barnet Berris
author_facet TS Paul Tran
S Victor Feinman
Barnet Berris
author_sort TS Paul Tran
collection DOAJ
description The status of 121 patients who were found to have liver cirrhosis on liver biopsy in 1981 was assessed seven years later. The etiology of the cirrhosis was alcoholic in 52%, cryptogenic in 29.8%, hepatitis B-related in 9.1% and miscellaneous in 9.1%. In 1981, jaundice was present in 55 patients (45.8%), ascites in 52 (43%), gastrointestinal bleeding in 25 (20.7%) and encephalopathy in 10 (8.3%). During the following seven years an additional 20 patients developed ascites, 15 gastrointestinal bleeding, 32 encephalopathy and three hepatocellular carcinoma. The mortality race was 43.8% at five years and 53.7% at seven years. The principal cause of death was liver failure (40%), followed by nonliver causes (32.3%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (13.9%). One patient died of hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients who survived seven years had fewer complications when seen in 1981 than those who died during this period (P<0.025). It is concluded that, in Toronto, cirrhosis is often caused by ethanol abuse and hepatitis B infection; that it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality; and that the number of complications when the patient is first seen may be a useful indicator of prognosis. Since many cases of cirrhosis are preventable, the authors suggest that efforts directed towards prevention of cirrhosis may be more rewarding than those directed towards therapy.
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spelling doaj-art-bf91ee2199464c5eaefc64de258c13cc2025-02-03T05:59:30ZengWileyCanadian Journal of Gastroenterology0835-79001991-01-0151111410.1155/1991/491483Liver Cirrhosis: A Seven Year Follow-UpTS Paul Tran0S Victor Feinman1Barnet Berris2Liver Study Unit, Department of Medicine and Research, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaLiver Study Unit, Department of Medicine and Research, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaLiver Study Unit, Department of Medicine and Research, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaThe status of 121 patients who were found to have liver cirrhosis on liver biopsy in 1981 was assessed seven years later. The etiology of the cirrhosis was alcoholic in 52%, cryptogenic in 29.8%, hepatitis B-related in 9.1% and miscellaneous in 9.1%. In 1981, jaundice was present in 55 patients (45.8%), ascites in 52 (43%), gastrointestinal bleeding in 25 (20.7%) and encephalopathy in 10 (8.3%). During the following seven years an additional 20 patients developed ascites, 15 gastrointestinal bleeding, 32 encephalopathy and three hepatocellular carcinoma. The mortality race was 43.8% at five years and 53.7% at seven years. The principal cause of death was liver failure (40%), followed by nonliver causes (32.3%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (13.9%). One patient died of hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients who survived seven years had fewer complications when seen in 1981 than those who died during this period (P<0.025). It is concluded that, in Toronto, cirrhosis is often caused by ethanol abuse and hepatitis B infection; that it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality; and that the number of complications when the patient is first seen may be a useful indicator of prognosis. Since many cases of cirrhosis are preventable, the authors suggest that efforts directed towards prevention of cirrhosis may be more rewarding than those directed towards therapy.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1991/491483
spellingShingle TS Paul Tran
S Victor Feinman
Barnet Berris
Liver Cirrhosis: A Seven Year Follow-Up
Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
title Liver Cirrhosis: A Seven Year Follow-Up
title_full Liver Cirrhosis: A Seven Year Follow-Up
title_fullStr Liver Cirrhosis: A Seven Year Follow-Up
title_full_unstemmed Liver Cirrhosis: A Seven Year Follow-Up
title_short Liver Cirrhosis: A Seven Year Follow-Up
title_sort liver cirrhosis a seven year follow up
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1991/491483
work_keys_str_mv AT tspaultran livercirrhosisasevenyearfollowup
AT svictorfeinman livercirrhosisasevenyearfollowup
AT barnetberris livercirrhosisasevenyearfollowup