Natural history of liver cirrhosis in 116 Nigerians

One hundred and sixteen cirrhotic patients were prospectively studied over a ten year period. Hepatitis B surface antigen was positive in 70% of tested patients. The cirrhotic liver was mainly macronodular and primary hepatocellullar carcinoma was associated with 63% of the patients. Half of the patients were critically ill with high incidences of ascites, jaundice and encephalopathy. Cirrhotic patients had significantly lower body temperature onycholysis and hyperpigmented palmo-plantar macular areas. The mean survival time was three years from onset of the initial symptoms to death. Patients with concomitant liver cancer were usually dead within six months after onset of the illness. Gender did not substantially affect the course of the disease. The major causes of death were tumour development (63%), gastrointestinal bleeding (40%), haemoperitoneum (28%) and hepatic failure (25%).