title: Morbidity and mortality in compensated cirrhosis type C: a retrospective follow-up study of 384 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Few data are available concerning the long-term prognosis of chronic liver disease associated with hepatitis C virus infection. This study examined the morbidity and survival of patients with compensated cirrhosis type C.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 384 European cirrhotic patients was enrolled at seven tertiary referral hospitals and followed up for a mean period of 5 years. Inclusion criteria were biopsy-proven cirrhosis, abnormal serum aminotransferase levels, absence of complications of cirrhosis, and exclusion of hepatitis A and B viruses and of metabolic, toxic, or autoimmune liver diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Antibodies against hepatitis C virus were positive in 98% of 361 patients tested. The 5-year risk of hepatocellular carcinoma was 7% and that of decompensation was 18%. Death occurred in 51 patients (13%), with 70% dying of liver disease. Survival probability was 91% and 79% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Two hundred five patients (53%) were treated with interferon alfa. After adjustment for clinical and serological differences at baseline between patients treated or not treated with interferon, the 5-year estimated survival probability was 96% and 95% for treated and untreated patients, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this cohort of patients, life expectancy is relatively long, in agreement with the morbidity data showing a slowly progressive disease.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Semeiotica e Nefrologia Medica, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fattovich
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giustina
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Degos
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tremolada
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diodati
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Almasio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nevens
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Solinas
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mura
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Brouwer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Njapoum
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Casarin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonetti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fuschi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Basho
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tocco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhalla
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galassini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Noventa
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Schalm
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Realdi
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha