title: Emerging patterns of hepatitis B chronic liver disease in Australia.
abstract: Until now, the hepatitis B virus has been thought to play a minor role in the aetiology of chronic liver disease in Australia. This is a report of 21 patients with cirrhosis and/or primary hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatitis B antigenaemia. Primary hepatocellular carcinoma occurred in six patients, five of whom had underlying cirrhosis. The disease occurred mainly in non-Australian born males, and was not often associated with a previous history of hepatitis. The death of 16 patients within 12 months of presentation is in contrast to previous concepts of the benign nature of hepatitis B associated cirrhosis.
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens