[Epidemiology of liver diseases in the GDR, 1979-1989].

Abstract

From 1979 to 1988 in the GDR the number of patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis increased from 2,387 to 3,958 (61.2%). An evident decrease of patients with acute virus hepatitis was observed (from 7,037 in 1979 to 1,578 in 1989). In future a further increase of alcoholic liver diseases with the resulting complications (e.g. coma, bleeding varices and withdrawal symptoms) has to be expected.