Asymptomatic forms of primary biliary cirrhosis seen in 10 years in Picardie
Sevenet, F.; Capron, J.P.
Presse Medicale 15(39): 1957-1960
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0755-4982 PMID: 2947218 Document Number: 271284
Thirty-one patients with primary biliary cirrhosis were observed in Picardy during the decade 1975-1984. Mean annual incidence was 2.6 per 10(6), and point prevalence, 13 per 10(6) inhabitants in 1984. Asymptomatic cases (without clinical manifestations of cholestasis) constituted 32% of all patients. In five of the 21 symptomatic patients, ascites and/or digestive hemorrhage due to ruptured esophageal varices revealed the disease. Nine patients (2 with initially asymptomatic PBC) died during the follow-up period. Cholelithiasis was present in 10 patients (32%) and one case of hepatocellular carcinoma was found at autopsy.