The Prognosis of Liver Cirrhosis in Recent Years in Korea

Young Sun Kim, Soon Ho Um, Ho Sang Ryu, Jung Bok Lee, Jae Won Lee, Dong Kyu Park, Yong Sik Kim, Yoon Tae Jin, Hoon Jai Chun, Hong Sik Lee, Sang Woo Lee, Jai Hyun Choi, Chang Duck Kim, Jin Hai Hyun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The survival of a recent series of 823 cirrhosis patients who were followed up for a mean of 48 months was analyzed. Cirrhosis was ascribed to alcohol (26%), hepatitis virus B (58%), hepatitis virus C (11%) or both (2%), or was cryptogenic (3%). Features of decompensation were observed in 51% of the patients at entry, and newly developed in 44% of compensated patients within 5 yr. The 5-yr survival after decompensation was 25%. The leading causes of death were liver failure (53%), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, 23%), and variceal bleeding (10%). Early detection of HCC significantly improved the survival of cirrhosis patients. Biannual ultrasonography increased the detection rate of small HCC. Mortality of variceal hemorrhage was much lower in patients with Child-Pugh scores from 5 to 8 than in those with scores above 8 (5% vs. 52%). Endoscopic prophylaxis significantly decreased the incidence of first variceal hemorrhage, but the effect was insufficient to improve the rate of survival. Mortality of first spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was 18%. These data suggest that the mortality of major complications of liver cirrhosis has considerably decreased during the last two decades, while there was no remarkable improvement in long-term survival. More efficient management of etiologic factors would be required.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)833-841
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Korean medical science
Volume18
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003 Dec
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alcoholic
  • Carcinoma
  • Esophageal and Gastric Varices
  • Hemorrhage
  • Hepatocellular
  • Liver Cirrhosis
  • Liver Cirrhosis
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Analysis
  • Survival Rate

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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