Differences in the etiology of chronic non-alcoholic liver disease in Naples and Copenhagen.
A group of patients with non-alcoholic chronic liver disease from Copenhagen (148) and one from Naples (116) were investigated for the presence of viral and autoimmune serological variables by standardized methods. There were more hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced cases among the Italians (38.8 versus 15.5%), but the sex ratio and biochemical activity were not different from the Danish ones. Autoimmune markers were much more frequent and in higher titers in Danish HBV-negative patients than in Italian ones. Fewer were women, and thus few Italians fit the theory of autoimmune pathology; rather, their chronic liver disease is caused by other hepatitis viruses than B.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens