Emerging patterns of hepatitis B chronic liver disease in Australia

Until now, the hepatitis B virus has been thought to play a minor role in the aetiology of chronic liver disease in Australia. This is a report of 21 patients with cirrhosis and/or primary hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatitis B antigenaemia. Primary hepatocellular carcinoma occurred in six patients, five of whom had underlying cirrhosis. The disease occurred mainly in non-Australian born males, and was not often associated with a previous history of hepatitis. The death of 16 patients within 12 months of presentation is in contrast to previous concepts of the benign nature of hepatitis B associated cirrhosis.