Prognosis in Decompensated Cirrhosis - A complete follow up study of twenty five cases

Abstract

Objective of this study is to see the clinical course of decompensated cirrhosis especially with reference to differences in presentation, age, sex and disease complications regarding the type of virus involved i.e., HCV or HBV. It is a prospective. randomized hospital based study. The patients were selected from inpatient and outpatient department of North medical Ward. The patients were followed up from October 1998 to April 2003. Twenty five patients suffering from decompensated cirrhosis were studied. The patients were followed up till their death or till the last visit. The maximum follow up was for 4 years and 7 months. The minimum follow up was three months and 10 days. Eleven patients died during the study. The average duration of follow up was one year and 4% months. The usual cause of death w as Variceal bleed or hepatic encephalopathy. There is a difference in presentation, age, sex and severity of disease in patients suffering from HCV or HBV. When there is coinfection of HCV and HBV in a patient the prognosis is worse and the patient is having rapid downhill course.