Vnitr Lek 1994, 40(8):495-498

[Liver cirrhosis mortality at the Outpatient Clinic in District 8 in Prague 1985-1993].

J Stránský: Sdruzení ambulantních zdravotnických zarízení, Praha.

In 1985-1993 in the out-patient clinic in Prague 8 a total of 59 patients died from cirrhosis of the liver, incl. 30 who were for prolonged periods HBsAg positive and 29 who were HBsAg negative. In the group of cirrhotics with positive HBsAg who died 19 of 29 (66%) were also HBeAg positive which suggested advanced HBV replication during the period of reconstruction of the liver. 43% of those who died and had HBV infection, had glucocorticoid treatment. Only one female patient of 13 had positive anti-HD in serum. In HBsAg negative cirrhotics the main cause of development of cirrhosis was ingestion of alcohol, but at that time it was not possible to assess antibodies against HCV. The most frequent cause of death in cirrhotics was haemorrhage into the digestive tract (25%), hepatic failure (20%) and a malignant tumour (12%). The most frequently encountered malignant tumour was primary carcinoma of the liver (in 8 of 11, 73%). Because in chronic hepatitis the replication activity of HBV is high and can persist also in advanced cirrhosis of the liver, patients with hepatitis B in the stage of active viral replication must be treated in time with interferon to prevent the development of the disease into cirrhosis of the liver and its complications.