Chronic active hepatitis and liver cirrhosis appear to be multisystem diseases, for many of the patients have associated conditions apparently unrelated to liver.
In order to evaluate the characteristics of systemic diseases associated with chronic liver diseases in
Korea, the authors studies 220 patients(160male, 42female; 20-65 years) with biopsy-proven active chronic hepatitis and 208 patients(I7lmale, 37 female; 15-69 years) with liver cirrhosis proven by liver biopsy and/or evidence of esophageal varices.
Various associated diseases were noted in 40. 10% and 49.04% in active chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis, respectively, and no apparent sexual difference was noted.
The most frequently found systemic manifestation in active chronic hepatitis was glomeru.lar damage which was found in 17.33% of patients. Among them, 2 cases of membranous glomerulonephritis and 1 case of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis were confirmed by kidney biopsy. Clinically, 2 cases had nephrotic syndrome and 1 case chronic renal failure in addition to liver disease. Skin manifestations(14.85%) including acne, , endocrine abnormal ities(6.44%), joint symptomst6.44% including arthralgia, diabetes mellitus(5.94%), hypertension(5.94%), lung diseases(4.95%), peptic ulcer(3.94%), gall stone{3.47%)were noted in the order of frequency. These extrahepatic manifestations were apt to wax and wane according to the activity of liver disease. ´
Glomerular damage was also the most frequently associated disease in liver cirrhosis, and was noted in, 21.63% of patients. Pathologic finding of proliferative glomerulonephritis was found in 2 cases by kidney biopsy. Lung diseases (17.19%), especially pleurisy with or without effusion in right side, diabetes mellitus(11.06%) and gall stone (6.73%) were not infrequent. Each of skin disorders and systemic infections was found in 4.81% of the patients. Hypertension, peptic ulcer,; several gastrointestinal diseases were also noted.´ In contrast to active chronic hepatitis, however, the skin manifestation and endocrine abnormality were less frequently noted in liver cirrhosis.
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