title: Liver biopsy performance and histological findings among patients with chronic viral hepatitis: a Danish database study.
abstract: We investigated the variance of liver biopsy frequency and histological findings among patients with chronic viral hepatitis attending 10 medical centres in Denmark. Patients who tested positive for HBsAg or HCV- RNA were retrieved from a national clinical database (DANHEP) and demographic data, laboratory analyses and liver biopsy results were collected. A total of 1586 patients were identified of whom 69.7% had hepatitis C, 28.9% hepatitis B, and 1.5% were coinfected. In total, 771 (48.6%) had a biopsy performed (range 33.3-78.7%). According to the Metavir classification, 29.3% had septal fibrosis (> or =F2) and 13.9% had cirrhosis (F4). The frequency of cirrhosis varied from 8.3 to 18.6% among centres, and was independently associated with age, male gender, elevated alanine-aminotransferase (ALT) and non-Danish origin. Among 141 patients with hepatitis C and known duration of infection, cirrhosis had developed in 23% after 20 y of infection. Age above 40 y was a better predictor of cirrhosis than elevated ALT. National database comparison may identify factors of importance for improved management of patients with chronic viral hepatitis.
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark. peer.christensen@dadlnet.dk
authors: Peer Brehm
authors: PB
authors: Christensen
authors: Henrik Bygum
authors: HB
authors: Krarup
authors: Axel
authors: A
authors: Møller
authors: Alex Lund
authors: AL
authors: Laursen
authors: Mette S
authors: MS
authors: Kjaer
authors: Marianne
authors: M
authors: Orholm
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Lindberg
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Groenbaek
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Kromann-Andersen
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Weis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase