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Clinical features of serologically non-B non-C chronic liver disease
M Ohana1, K Hajiro, H Takakuwa
1Department of Gastroenterology, Tenri Hospital, Nara, Japan.
Background/Aims:
To clarify the clinical features of serologically non-B non-C chronic liver disease (SNBNCLD).
Material And Methods:
Two hundred-eleven Japanese patients hospitalized for clinical manifestations associated with non-alcoholic chronic liver disease were tested by hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by reversed passive hemagglutination (RPHA) and the second generation hepatitis C antibody (HCVAb) by passive hemagglutination (PHA).
Results:
Twenty-two patients (10.4%, 15 men and 7 women) were diagnosed as having SNBNCLD, evaluated clinically and compared with other close etiologies. Their clinical manifestations and severity of liver disease were similar to those of other etiologies. The average age was higher than hepatitis B (p < 0.001), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC, p < 0.05), autoimmune hepatitis (AIH, p < 0.05) and hepatitis C. None of them had a history of blood transfusion before the onset. Concomitance of hepatoma was seen in 40.9%, being uncommon compared with hepatitis B (p < 0.01) and hepatitis C (p < 0.005). No significant difference of the survival rate was shown compared to other etiologies. HBsAb was more frequent (36.4%) than in hepatitis C (p < 0.05), and disappearance of HBsAg was seen in two hepatitis B patients during the follow-up period.
Conclusion:
Our data suggest that SNBNCLD is unique and important clinical entity associated with previous hepatitis B.