Frequency of different causes of cirrhosis liver in local population

Background: Cirrhosis liver is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The objective of this study was to find out the frequency of different causes of cirrhosis liver in patients admitted to medical unit. Material & Methods: A prospective study of 95 patients already diagnosed with cirrhosis liver or diagnosed as such during current admission was performed in the Medical B Unit of the Department of Medicine Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from January, 2009 to December, 2009. Both male and female patients above 15 years of age were included in this study. Results: Of the 95 patients meeting the inclusive criteria 49(51.6%) were male and 46(48.4%) female patients. The commonest affected age group was 40-60 years. The most common cause of cirrhosis liver in our study was hepatitis C virus infection responsible for 74(61.66%) patients followed by hepatitis B virus infection, hepatitis B and C viruses co-infection and hepatitis B and D virus super infection in 18(18.94%), 5(5.3%) and 4(4.2%) patients respectively. Other causes found were alcoholic liver disease in 3(3.2%) patients, primary biliary cirrhosis in 2(2.1%) and 1(1.05%) patient each had Wilson’s disease and haemachromatosis while in 3(3.15%) no cause for cirrhosis liver was found. Conclusion: The most common cause of cirrhosis liver in admitted patients is hepatitis C virus infection followed by hepatitis B virus infection in our local population.