The natural history of chronic hepatitis B: a retrospective study.

Objective: To clarify the natural history of chronic hepatitis B so as to evaluate its long-term therapeutic outcome of the patients and the efficacy of antiviral drugs.

Methods: A cohort of 183 biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis B patients (mean age of 31.75+/-8.

[Long-term health-related quality of life in chronic hepatitis B patients].

Objective: To evaluate their long-term outcome and the efficacy and economic significance of antiviral drugs by investigating the long-term health-related quality of life (HQL) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Methods: The HQL of 101 CHB patients with biopsy-proven 6 to 18 years ago and 105 persons of general population as control was studied with revised SF-36 questionnaire.

Results: The HQL in CHB patients was lower than that in general population in physical functioning, role physical, general health, mental health, and specific symptoms (mu > or = 2.