Chronic liver disease in young people

Active `juvenile' cirrhosis considered as part of a systemic disease and the effect of corticosteroid therapy

“…DISCUSSION The condition we have described has received a number of names. Patients with predominantly hepatocellular jaundice have been female and young (Bearn et al, 1956;Cullinan, 1936;Kelsall, Stewart, and Witts, 1947;Polack, 1937;Saint, King, Joske, and Finckh, 1953;Willocx and Isselbacher, 1961). The association with L.E.…”

“…Ulcerative colitis may represent the effects of antibodies damaging the colonic mucosa (Calabresi, Thayer, and Spiro, 1961;Broberger and Perlmann, 1959), and this has been noted in association with acute juvenile cirrhosis (Willocx and Isselbacher, 1961;Gray, Mackay, Taft, Weiden, and Wood, 1958;Page and Good, 1960;Case Records of the Massachusetts General Hospital, 35101, 1949). In our patients the liver lesion was typical of the whole series.…”

“…Two other patients had a similar clinical syndrome with deficient acidification but here hypokalaemia and urinary infection seemed more likely to be operative. Renal disease complicating this liver disorder is well recognized (Taft et al, 1960;Page and Good, 1960;Mackay, Taft, and Cowling, 1959;Willocx and Isselbacher, 1961).…”

“…(1959) have died. Willocx and Isselbacher (1961) noted that 20 of 30 women had died, the survival period ranging from six months to seven years. The 11 men fared better, the average survival being five years.…”

“…There are several reports in the world literature describing a chronic variety of liver disease occurring mainly in young adult patients (Waldenstrom, 1950;Bearn, Kunkel, and Slater, 1956;Naish, 1960;Willocx and Isselbacher, 1961). This paper describes the clinical and pathological features seen in a group of 81 patients considered to belong to this group.…”