Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Introduction: Liver cirrhosis is the end stage of many liver diseases. Objective: To determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with liver cirrhosis. Results: There were 19 patients (33.3%) in the age group between 60 and 69 years; 31 (54.4%) women and 26 (45.6%) men. Hepatitis C virus was found in 21 patients (36.8%). 96.4% of the patients were diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound; 12 (21.1%) presented ascites and 38 (66.6%) endoscopic manifestations of portal hypertension. In D'Amico stage 4 there were 20 (35 %) patients and 26 (45.6%) in Child-Pugh A stage; 24 (42.1%) in Child-Pugh B and 7 (12.3%) in Child-Pugh C. Conclusions: Liver cirrhosis predominates in the seventh decade of life, in females. Abdominal ultrasound prevails as a diagnostic mode. The most common causes are hepatitis C virus and alcoholism. Ascites is the most common complication. Most patients present with signs of portal hypertension. Uncompensated forms of the disease predominate.

Keywords

• cirrosis hepática
• hepatitis b
• hepatitis c
• hepatitis autoinmune
• cirrosis biliar primaria
• colangitis esclerosante primaria.