Natural history of 45 patients with active chronic hepatitis in a general medicine unit
Buscarini, L.; Fornari, F.; Cavanna, L.; Rossi, S.; Buscarini, E.; Binelli, F.
La Clinica Terapeutica 114(3): 189-194
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-9074 PMID: 4053539 Document Number: 249783
In a division of internal medicine from 1970 to 1980, 45 cases of chronic active hepatitis have been diagnosed by percutaneous needle biopsy of the liver. Patients have never been treated and the follow-up stopped on 30 June 1983. On the basis of causal factors we have considered four groups: alcohol-related; HBsAg positive; ANA positive; cryptogenetic. Death rate was 46.6% reaching the peak within 5 years since diagnosis. Fatal prognosis correlates with histological pattern at the moment of diagnosis.