title: Aetiological spectrum of chronic liver disease in eastern India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the aetiologic spectrum of chronic liver disease (CLD) in a tertiary referral center in Eastern India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 175 patients (cirrhosis 166, chronic hepatitis 9) diagnosed by clinical, biochemical, radiological and histopathological (42 cases) parameters were evaluated for aetiology. Investigations included: HBsAg and anti HCV (third generation) by ELISA. HBeAg and HBV DNA were tested in HBsAg positive patients. HCV RNA was tested in anti-HCV positive patients. Markers for autoimmune and Wilson's disease (anti-nuclear antibody, anti smooth muscle antibody, serum ceruloplasmin, urinary copper and slit lamp examination for KF ring) were done where clinically indicated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 62 (35.4%) patients had HBV related CLD and 6 (9.7%) of them had pre-core mutant. HCV was present in 17/114 (14.9%) cases and none had infection with both viruses. Autoimmunity, Wilson's disease and alcohol were the aetiological factors in 5 (2.8%), 5 (2.8%) and 3 (1.7%) patients respectively. No aetilogy could be found in 18/114 (15.8%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that HBV is the commonest cause of CLD in Eastern India. Alcohol and HCV are uncommon in this part of the country.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Calcutta.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: U C
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Ghoshal
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dhar
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Biswas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged