TY - JOUR
T1 - Young v adult cirrhotics
T2 - A prospective, comparative analysis of the clinical profile, natural course and survival
AU - Sarin, S. K.
AU - Chari, S.
AU - Sundaram, K. R.
AU - Ahuja, R. K.
AU - Anand, B. S.
AU - Broor, S. L.
PY - 1988
Y1 - 1988
N2 - In order to assess the frequency and profile of cirrhosis in the young, 169 consecutive patients with cirrhosis were studied. Sixty three (37%) patients of ≤35 years age were defined as young and the remaining 106 (63%) patients (>35 years) as adult cirrhotics. Men predominated significantly (p < 0.01) in the young cirrhotic group. The aetiology, the frequency of positive hepatitis B markers and initial clinical presentation were similar in the two groups. During the follow up period (30.6 ± 29.7 months for the young and 25.8 ± 21.7 months for the adult group), except for abdominal distension and pedal oedema which occurred significantly more often in the adult compared with the young cirrhotics, no difference was noted in the two groups. Twenty seven (39.7%) deaths (40% as a result of hepatic failure and 52% due to variceal bleeding) occurred in the young and 47 (44.3%) deaths (63.8% because of hepatic failure and 26% because of variceal bleeding) occurred in the adult cirrhotics during the follow up (difference NS). The five year survival (61.9% v 55.7%) and the probability of survival within the same Child's grade of liver disease were comparable. In both the groups, however, the probability of survival was significantly higher in Child's A compared with Child's B and C and in Child's B compared with Child's C grade of liver disease. Survival was not influenced by sex of the patient and aetiology of cirrhosis. Results of this prospective study indicate that cirrhosis is not uncommon in young adults. The aetiology, clinical presentation, natural history of the disease and the survival rates in young cirrhotics do not differ significantly from adult cirrhotics.
AB - In order to assess the frequency and profile of cirrhosis in the young, 169 consecutive patients with cirrhosis were studied. Sixty three (37%) patients of ≤35 years age were defined as young and the remaining 106 (63%) patients (>35 years) as adult cirrhotics. Men predominated significantly (p < 0.01) in the young cirrhotic group. The aetiology, the frequency of positive hepatitis B markers and initial clinical presentation were similar in the two groups. During the follow up period (30.6 ± 29.7 months for the young and 25.8 ± 21.7 months for the adult group), except for abdominal distension and pedal oedema which occurred significantly more often in the adult compared with the young cirrhotics, no difference was noted in the two groups. Twenty seven (39.7%) deaths (40% as a result of hepatic failure and 52% due to variceal bleeding) occurred in the young and 47 (44.3%) deaths (63.8% because of hepatic failure and 26% because of variceal bleeding) occurred in the adult cirrhotics during the follow up (difference NS). The five year survival (61.9% v 55.7%) and the probability of survival within the same Child's grade of liver disease were comparable. In both the groups, however, the probability of survival was significantly higher in Child's A compared with Child's B and C and in Child's B compared with Child's C grade of liver disease. Survival was not influenced by sex of the patient and aetiology of cirrhosis. Results of this prospective study indicate that cirrhosis is not uncommon in young adults. The aetiology, clinical presentation, natural history of the disease and the survival rates in young cirrhotics do not differ significantly from adult cirrhotics.
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U2 - 10.1136/gut.29.1.101
DO - 10.1136/gut.29.1.101
M3 - Article
C2 - 3343002
AN - SCOPUS:0023862996
SN - 0017-5749
VL - 29
SP - 101
EP - 107
JO - Gut
JF - Gut
IS - 1
ER -