title: Epidemiology of chronic hepatitis in Perth, Western Australia.
abstract: A survey was made on 50 patients with active chronic hepatitis (ACH) seen in Perth, Western Australia. The aetiology varied: three cases followed metabolic disease, 8 drugs or alcohol, 12 were due to hepatitis B and no cause in 27. There was a male preponderance in the first three groups and a female preponderance in the idiopathic group. The drug dependent group had a greater mean age than the other groups. Autoantibodies were present in 40 of the cases--the most frequent were antismooth muscle antibody in 24 cases and antinuclear factor in 13 cases. Six patients (12%) improved and are well following discontinuation of therapy. Seven (14%) have died. The rest (74%) remain on treatment.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000150:complications; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008661:Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors