Long-term follow-up of chronic hepatitis C in Japan

Background/Aims: Chronic hepatitis C which exhibits a varied natural course, is becoming a major problem worldwide. Methodology: In this study, we investigated 161 patients with chronic hepatitis C by repeated liver biopsies. From initial biopsies, we diagnosed 56 patients with chronic persistent hepatitis, 74 with chronic active hepatitis 2A, and 31 with chronic active hepatitis 2B. Results: During the follow-up period, a progression from chronic hepatitis to liver cirrhosis was recognized among all stages, however the rate of progression to liver cirrhosis was less in chronic persistent hepatitis than in chronic active hepatitis 2A and chronic active hepatitis 2B. Hepatocellular carcinoma was detected in chronic active hepatitis 2A and chronic active hepatitis 2B at the initial stage, however, no tumors developed in chronic persistent hepatitis at the initial stage. Most hepatocellular carcinomas were concomitant with liver cirrhosis. Conclusions: We suggest a close follow-up of patients with chronic hepatitis C, especially those patients with chronic active hepatitis 2A or 2B and exhibiting successive active inflammation of liver.