A Descriptive study Of chronic hepatitis as seen at Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

Over an eight months period, between February 1989 and December 1989, a total of 16 patients (9 males and 7 females) with chronic hepatitis were studied at Kenyatta National Hospital. The patients studied, had both clinical and a histological diagnosis of chronic hepatitis. The results showed that, 16(53.3%) of the 30 patients with a clinical diagnosis of chronic hepatitis had a compatible histology. Chronic persistent and chronic active hepatitis occurred in almost equal proportions. There was no case of chronic lobular hepatitis. Neither clinical features, nor liver function tests could adequately differentiate the two reported histological types. The aetiological spectrum included hepatitis B virus, alcohol and auto-immune hepatitis.