Nasir Khokhar.
Spectrum of Chronic Liver Disease in a Tertiary Care Hospital.
J Pak Med Assoc Jan ;52(2):56-8.

Objective: To ascertain the nature and etiology of the chronic liver disease occuring in the northern part of Pakistan. Methods: Results of the liver biopsies performed at Shifa International Hospital from 1994-2000 were reviewed. The reason for the biopsy and results were noted and analyzed. Results: A total of 518 liver biopsies were performed during this period. Most patients were between the ages of 31-50 years (range 10-70 years). Males and females were equal. Three hundred fifty four (68.3%) patients had chronic hepatitis. Of these 86% had hepatitis C, 10.7% hepatitis B and 3.1 % both B and C. Of 41 (7.9%) hepatocellular carcinomas, 29.3% were due to hepatitis C and 14% due to hepatitis B virus infection. Etiology was not known in 53% cases of HCC. Other categories included chronic hepatitis with early cirrhosis (4.8%), cirrhosis (3.1 %), adenocarcinoma (4.6%) and other miscellaneous conditions. Conclusion: Chronic hepatitis C makes the largest percentage in this series of cases followed by hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis and metastatic adenocarcinoma as causes of chronic liver disease in this part of Pakistan (JPMA 52:56,2002).

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