7004 Trends in the causes and outcome of liver cirrhosis diagnosed by laparoscopy in japan during the past 3 decades.

Abstract

<i>Background:</i>Although various factors are assumed to have substantially altered the demographic characteristics of liver cirrhosis, few studies of patients with endoscopically confirmed cirrhosis have been done in Japan. We analyzed trends in causes and outcome of liver cirrhosis in Japan during the past 3 decades. <i>Methods:</i>The study group comprised 466 patients with cirrhosis of the liver who underwent laparoscopy at any time between 1969 and 1998. To analyze trends in the causes and outcome of cirrhosis, the study period was divided into three 10-year intervals, variables included hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C virus antibody, alcohol intake, causes of death, and outcome. <i>Results:</i>HCV has remained the major course of liver cirrhosis during the past 30 years. Before the discovery of HCV in 1989 most cases diagnosed as non-A, non-B hepatitis were caused by HCV infection. Alcohol played a part in the development of liver cirrhosis in more than 30% of the study group, alone or with hepatitis viruses, alcohol therefore remains an important factor in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis. The outcome of cirrhosis has improved gradually during the past decade owing to more effective means of treatment for complications of cirrhosis, such as esophageal varices, HCC, and hepatic encephalopathy. <i>Conclusion:</i>HCV has remained the major cause for the past 3 decades. Improvement of outcome in patients with liver disease caused by HCV infection is an important task.