Objective: To study the clinical features and prognosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis after the first occurrence of complications.
Methods: The clinical data of 89 decompensated HCV-related cirrhosis patients were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the factors influencing the clinical decompensation were conducted.
Results: Ascites was the most frequent first decompensation (44.9%), followed by upper gastrointestinal bleeding (23.6%), and self-originated peritonitis (20.2%), and hepatic encephalopathy (11.2%). During the follow-up of 62 months (60-66 months) ascites was the most frequent first decompensation (47. 2%), followed by self-originated peritonitis (18.0%), upper gastrointestinal bleeding (15.7%), and hepatic encephalopathy (7.9%). The 5-year survival rates after of the patients with hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, upper gastrointestinal bleeding and self-originated peritonitis as the first decompensated complications were 64.5%, 85.0%, 75.0%, and 83.3% respectively. Multivariate regression analysis showed that esophageal and gastro varices and bilirubin were independently correlated with survival.
Conclusion: Hepatitis C is a slowly progressing disease. Decompensation occurring in hepatitis C is significantly correlated with survival.