title: Clinical aspects of incomplete septal cirrhosis in comparison with macronodular cirrhosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Incomplete septal cirrhosis (ISC) is a form of macronodular cirrhosis characterized by slender, incomplete septa that demarcate inconspicuous nodules. Its clinical features have not been investigated in a large series. The aims of this study were to review the clinical symptoms and evolution of ISC in 42 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two patients with at least one liver biopsy strongly suggestive of ISC were selected for the study covering a period between 1968 and 1987. Data for these patients were compared with the evolution of 49 patients with classical macronodular cirrhosis after chronic active hepatitis type B or C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Possible etiological factors for ISC were alcohol abuse, arsenic treatment, and hepatitis B infection. In three cases, a genetic factor could not be excluded. Patients with ISC had significantly lower serum concentrations of transaminases and bilirubin at diagnosis. Compared with macronodular cirrhosis, bleeding varices were more frequent (57% vs. 22%) in ISC. Ten-year survivals in the ISC and the macronodular cirrhosis groups were 54% and 57%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ISC represents a relatively stable burnt-out form of macronodular cirrhosis with an unusually high incidence of variceal bleeding. This could be explained by a superimposed insufficiency of the portal vascular supply.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nevens
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Staessen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sciot
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Desmet
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fevery
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Groote
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Steenbergen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies