Liver fibrosis in hepatitis C patients of Pakistani versus Scandinavian origin.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the significance of native country for the stage of liver fibrosis in a population of HCV patients of Pakistani or Scandinavian origin living in Oslo.

Patients And Methods: We included 122 consecutive HCV patients at two hepatitis clinics in Oslo, 73 of Scandinavian and 49 of Pakistani origin. Inclusion criteria were being HCV RNA positive, treatment naïve and having an adequate liver biopsy.

ASAT/ALAT ratio provides prognostic information independently of Child-Pugh class, gender and age in non-alcoholic cirrhosis.

Objective: The aspartate amino transferase/alanine amino transferase (ASAT/ALAT) ratio is increased in cirrhosis. Some studies indicate that the ratio may provide prognostic information as well. The purpose of this study was to further elucidate the role of the ASAT/ALAT ratio as a predictor of survival by assessing it together with classical risk factors such as age, gender and Child-Pugh (CP) class in a mixed cohort of patients with cirrhosis.

Incidence rates and causes of cirrhosis in a Norwegian population.

Objective: To investigate the incidence rate and causes of cirrhosis in a Norwegian population. We also sought to assess the degree of underreporting of cirrhosis to the Norwegian Death Registry.

Material And Methods: All 1264 patients treated at Aker University Hospital in the period January 1999 to March 2004 who were given a diagnosis indicating cirrhosis, chronic liver disease or symptoms possibly attributable to cirrhosis were screened retrospectively.