The study of the epidemiology of toxic liver injury has been limited in Korea. The number of hospitalizations for toxic liver injury has been estimated to be 2,400 persons per year. About 30~40% of fulminant hepatitis was attributed to toxic hepatitis. The frequent causative agents of toxic hepatitis in Korea are herbal medicines (34~40%), folk remedies (23~34%), and prescribed medicines (24~55%). However, the most common agents causing severe liver injury including fulminant hepatitis are herbal medicine and folk remedies. Antituberculosis drugs and acetaminophen are two common causes of fulminant hepatitis among prescribed drugs. Alcohol is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease in Korea. No nationwide study on the epidemiology of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has been carried out, but 7~31% of cirrhosis has been reported to be alcoholic in a few single-center studies. Alcohol could be a risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic viral hepatitis. Several studies have shown that alcohol increased the risk of HCC in liver cirrhosis with HBsAg or anti-HCV. Furthermore, alcoholic cirrhosis with occult hepatitis B virus infection increased the risk of HCC.
Drug-Induced Liver Injury/diagnosis/*epidemiology/etiology ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/complications/epidemiology ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/complications/*epidemiology ; Liver Neoplasms/etiology ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Alcoholic liver disease has increased. The causes of death in liver cirrhosis have changed. The author tried to categorize the etiology and complications of liver cirrhosis and analyze the causes of death in the 1990s. METHOD: The author retrospectively reviewed medical records of 1,175 patients diagnosed as having liver cirrhosis at Kyung Hee University Hospital from January 1991 through December 1998. The etiology, complications and the cause of death were compared between the early (1991-1994) and the late (1995-1998) periods. RESULTS: The proportion of male patients (73.3%) was still about 3 times that of female patients. There was no difference in age at the time of diagnosis between early and late periods (51.4 11.1 and 51.2 11.2 years respectively). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was still the most common cause of liver cirrhosis (57.0%) and alcohol was the next (31.1%). The complications of liver cirrhosis at the time of diagnosis were, in order: esophageal varices, ascites, and variceal bleeding. But there was no significant difference between the periods. The proportion of Child grade B was the most common at the time of diagnosis in both periods, but Child grade A increased in the late period. The most common cause of death was liver failure and the next cause was variceal bleeding in the early period. Hepatorenal syndrome was the second most common cause in the late period. CONCLUSION: There was no change in the etiology between early and late periods. HBV infection was still the most common etiology but the incidence of alcoholic liver cirrhosis might have increased in the 1990s. The proportion of the Child B at initial diagnosis was the highest (around 50%) but that of Child A increased in the late period. Among the causes of death, liver failure and hepatorenal syndrome had a tendency to increase in the late period.
Ascites ; Cause of Death* ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiology ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatorenal Syndrome ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; Liver Failure ; Liver* ; Male ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver cirrhosis and malignant tumors are two major causes of ascites according to the reports from Western countries, 80% and 10% respectively. Assuming that there might be regional differences in etiologies and changes in their frequency over time, we investigated causes of ascites and the diagnostic usefulness of various laboratory tests. METHODS: Medical records of 366 patients, who underwent diagnostic paracentesis in the mid-1990s (1996 and 1997) and early 2000s (2001 and 2002), were retrospectively reviewed. The etiology was confirmed by histology, imaging studies, and ascites analyses. RESULTS: The frequency of cirrhotic ascites was 59.6%, cancer-related 25.7%, tuberculous peritonitis 6.6%, and others 8.1%. Among cirrhotics, the frequency of cases related to hepatitis B decreased significantly from 72% to 55% over time, and alcoholic cirrhosis increased from 18% to 34%. Among cancer-related ascites, peritoneal carcinomatosis type was 75.5% (primary sites: stomach 24.5%, pancreas 15.9%, colon 15.9%, lung 7.4%, etc), metastatic liver cancers 8.5%, hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis 6.4%, etc. The sensitivity of serum-ascites albumin gradient for the diagnosis of cirrhotic ascites was 91.4%, and total protein in ascites also revealed a comparable diagnostic sensitivity, 90%. The diagnostic sensitivity of adenosine deaminase for tuberculous peritonitis was 94.2%, and its positive predictive value was 75%. CONCLUSIONS: Liver cirrhosis is the leading cause of ascites, especially alcoholic cirrhosis has significantly increased. The next common etiology is cancer-related, and its frequency in Korea is higher than in western countries. Tuberculous peritonitis is still prevalent, and adenosine deaminase could precisely differentiate it from other causes.
Adenosine Deaminase/analysis ; Adult ; Aged ; Ascitic Fluid/chemistry/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/*diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms/*diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology ; *Paracentesis ; Peritonitis, Tuberculous/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease seen in patients with obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is an important predictor of the severe form of NAFLD, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and NASH patients with diabetes have an increased risk of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. With the prevalence of obesity and diabetes around the world, NAFLD has become a global public health problem. NAFLD is not only one of the most important causes of liver-related disability and mortality, but also associated with the increasing incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The effective prevention and treatment of NAFLD is expected to reduce the burden of liver disease and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this article overviews the advances in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of NAFLD.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; epidemiology ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; epidemiology ; Diabetes Mellitus ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; epidemiology ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Metabolic Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Prevalence

Many studies have suggested that occult HBV infection has a substantial clinical relevance to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Occult HBV infection is an important risk factor for the development of cirrhosis and HCC in patients without HBsAg. As a matter of fact, occult HBV infection is one of the most common causes of crytogenic HCC in endemic areas of HBV. However, there still are controversial issues about the association between occult HBV infection and HCC according to the underlying liver disease. In alcoholic cirrhosis, occult HBV infection may exert synergistic effect on the development of HCC. However, there is insufficient evidence to relate occult HBV infection to hepatocarcinogenesis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In cryptogenic HCC, occult HBV infection may play a direct role in the development of HCC. In order to elucidate the assocciation between occult HBV infection and HCC, underlying liver disease must be specified and larger number of cases must be included in future studies.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*complications/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; DNA, Viral/analysis ; Hepatitis/complications ; Hepatitis B/*complications/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/complications ; Liver Neoplasms/*complications/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to describe the types and causes of liver disease in patients from a single community hospital in Korea between April 2005 and May 2010. METHODS: A cohort of patients who visited the liver clinic of the hospital during the aforementioned time period were consecutively enrolled (n=6,307). Consistent diagnostic criteria for each liver disease were set by a single, experienced hepatologist, and the diagnosis of all of the enrolled patients was confirmed by retrospective review of their medical records. RESULTS: Among the 6,307 patients, 528 (8.4%) were classified as acute hepatitis, 3,957 (62.7%) as chronic hepatitis, 767 (12.2%) as liver cirrhosis, 509 (8.1%) as primary liver cancer, and 546 (8.7%) as a benign liver mass or other diseases. The etiologies in the acute hepatitis group in decreasing order of prevalence were hepatitis A (44.3%), toxic hepatitis (32.4%), other hepatitis viruses (13.8%), and cryptogenic hepatitis (9.1%). In the chronic hepatitis group, 51.2% of cases were attributed to viral hepatitis, 33.3% to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and 13.0% to alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Of the cirrhoses, 73.4% were attributable to viral causes and 18.1% to alcohol. Of the hepatocellular carcinoma cases, 86.6% were attributed to viral hepatitis and 11.6% to ALD. Among the benign tumors, hemangioma comprised 52.2% and cystic liver disease comprised 33.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the current status of the type and cause of liver disease in Korea may be valuable as a basis for evaluating changing trends in liver disease in that country.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alcohol Drinking/adverse effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/epidemiology/etiology/pathology ; Chronic Disease ; Cohort Studies ; Fatty Liver/epidemiology ; Female ; Hepatitis/epidemiology ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human/complications/epidemiology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/epidemiology/etiology ; Liver Diseases/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/complications/epidemiology ; Liver Neoplasms/epidemiology/etiology/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Biomarkers ; blood ; Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Imaging ; methods ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Fatty Liver ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Fatty Liver, Alcoholic ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Hepatitis ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to identify non-endoscopic predictors for the presence of large esophageal varices in Korean patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: Among 736 patients with liver cirrhosis newly diagnosed between the year 2001 and 2005, 245 patients (171 men and 74 women, mean age of 51.9 years) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and underwent EGD as screening tests for esophageal varices. Fifteen variables were analysed to identify the presence of large esophageal varices. RESULTS: Esophageal varices were noted in 186 patients (75.9%) and large varices in 55 patients (22.4%), while 59 patients (24.1%) had no varices at the time of initial diagnosis of cirrhosis. The causes of liver cirrhosis were viral hepatitis (41.2%), chronic alcoholism (42.4%), viral hepatitis/alcoholism (9.8%), and others (6.6%). Fifty-one percent, 35.1% and 13.9% of the patients belonged to Child-Pugh class A, B, and C, respectively. Variables associated with the presence of large esophageal varices on univariate analysis were the presence of ascites, splenomegaly (long-axis > or =12 cm by ultrasound measure), alcoholism, Child-Pugh class, platelet count, prothrombin time, and albumin. On multivariate analysis, alcohol, splenomegaly, and ascites were significantly associated with the presence of large esophageal varices. If the patients have two of them, sensitivity and negative predictive value were 80% and 91.7%, respectively. Patients without all three factors had no large esophageal varices. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that patients who have at least two among ascites, splenomegaly, and alcoholism would have an increased risk of having large esophageal varices.
Adult ; Aged ; Ascites/diagnosis ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/diagnosis/epidemiology/*etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/*complications/epidemiology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/*complications/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prevalence ; ROC Curve ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Severity of Illness Index ; Splenomegaly/complications

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Alcohol and the hepatitis B virus (HBV) exert synergistic effects in hepatocelluar carcinogenesis. We aimed to elucidate the clinical significance of the antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and occult HBV infection on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (LC). METHODS: Patients with alcoholic LC alone (n=193) or combined with HCC (n=36), who did not have HBsAg or antibody to hepatitis C virus were enrolled. Clinical data and laboratory data including anti-HBc were investigated at enrollment. The polymerase chain reaction was applied to HBV DNA using sera of patients with HCC or LC after age and sex matching. RESULTS: Patients with HCC were older (60+/-11 years vs. 53+/-10 years, mean+/-SD, P<0.001), more likely to be male (100% vs. 89%, P=0.03), and had a higher positive rate of anti-HBc (91.2% vs. 77.3%, P=0.067), and a higher alcohol intake (739+/-448 kg vs. 603+/-409 kg, P=0.076) than those with LC. Age was the only significant risk factor for HCC revealed by multiple logistic regression analysis (odds ratio, 1.056; P=0.003). The positive rate of anti-HBc and alcohol intake did not differ in age- and sex-matched subjects between the LC (n=32) and HCC (n=31) groups. However, the detection rate of serum HBV DNA was higher in the HCC group (48.4%) than in the LC group (0%, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Anti-HBc positivity is not a risk factor for HCC. However, occult HBV infection may be a risk factor for HCC in patients with alcoholic LC.
Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Viral/blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis/epidemiology/*etiology ; DNA, Viral/analysis ; Female ; Hepatitis B/*complications/diagnosis ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens/*immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/immunology ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics/immunology/isolation & purification ; Hepatitis C/complications/diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/*complications/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/epidemiology/*etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in children. The global prevalence of pediatric NAFLD from general populations is 7.6%. In obese children, the prevalence is higher in Asia. NAFLD has a strong heritable component based on ethnic difference in the prevalence and clustering within families. Genetic polymorphisms of patatin-like phospholipase domain–containing protein 3 (PNPLA3), transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2, and glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR) are associated with the risk of NAFLD in children. Variants of PNPLA3 and GCKR are more common in Asians. Alterations of the gut microbiome might contribute to the pathogenesis of NAFLD. High fructose intake increases the risk of NAFLD. Liver fibrosis is a poor prognostic factor for disease progression to cirrhosis. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magnetic resonance proton density fat fraction are more accurate for steatosis quantification than ultrasound. Noninvasive imaging methods to assess liver fibrosis, such as transient elastography, shear-wave elastography, and magnetic resonance elastography are useful in predicting advanced fibrosis, but they need further validation. Longitudinal follow-up studies into adulthood are needed to better understand the natural history of pediatric NAFLD.
Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Disease Progression ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Epidemiology ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fructose ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genetics ; Glucokinase ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Microbiota ; Natural History ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Phospholipases ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Prevalence ; Protons ; Ultrasonography