Does the etiology of cirrhosis make a difference?
The prevalence of symptomatic duodenal ulcer (DU) assessed primarily in alcoholic males with cirrhosis is estimated to be approximately fivefold increased compared to the normal population. Little information is available, however, as to the prevalence of DU in nonbleeding, nonalcoholic subjects with cirrhosis. In order to estimate the prevalence of DU in males with various types of cirrhosis and its relation to the degree of portal hypertension, 216 male cirrhotic patients (165 with parenchymal liver disease and 51 with cholestatic liver disease) being evaluated for liver transplantation at the University of Pittsburgh between January 1985 and June 1987 underwent pan-upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The prevalence of DU in each group was 7.8%. However, among the various subgroups it was as follows: chronic active hepatitis due to HBV: 9.4%, alcoholic: 12.2%, cryptogenic: 3.5%, autoimmune chronic active hepatitis: 6.6%, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC): 9.5%. The reference data fo
