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To identify prognostic factors taking in account recent advances in diagnosis and treatment, 24 clinical, biological, and morphological factors were evaluated by means of uni- and multivariate analysis in 84 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosed between 1984 and 1991. Okuda's grading (P < 0.01), creatininemia (P < 0.01), and treatment (P < 0.05) were independent prognostic factors. Des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin reached a significant level (P < 0.05) in a subgroup of 32 recent patients but its prognostic value needs to be confirmed. Further prospective randomized trials comparing surgical and non-surgical treatment should take these factors into account.

No epidemiological data on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are available in France. We therefore conducted a prospective epidemiologic study of IBD in the Nord-Pas de Calais region and the Somme department of France (4.5 million inhabitants). Each suspected new case was reported by all (private and public) gastroenterologists (n = 120) and a questionnaire was filled out at the gastroenterologist office by an epidemiologist. The final diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), or proctitis (UP) was made in a blind manner by two gastroenterologists. During 1988, 576 IBD patients were identified; 281 (49 percent) had CD, 207 (36 percent) had UC including 75 UP; and 88 (15 percent) had unclassified colitis. The incidence rate per 10(5) was 6.3 for CD and 4.6 for UC. The female/male ratio was 1.4 for CD and 0.9 for UC. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 31 years for CD and 40.5 years for UC. The mean time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was longer for CD (15 months) than for UC (6.8 months). These preliminary data suggest that the incidence of IBD is high in Northwestern France and comparable, for CD, to the highest incidence of Northern Europe.

The authors report the case of a non-alcoholic 73-year-old man, treated for arrhythmia with amiodarone for 2 months, and hospitalized because of jaundice and hepatomegaly. There was an important increase in serum alkaline phosphatase activity (4 times the normal value) and a moderate increase in the serum activity of transaminases (3-4 times the normal value). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was normal. Serum markers of virus B and tissue antibodies were absent. Histological examination of a liver specimen disclosed portal and periportal fibrosis, mixed inflammatory infiltrate of the portal spaces, and ductular proliferation. Lamellar lysosomal inclusions were demonstrated on electron microscopy. Outcome was favorable after withdrawal of amiodarone. This report, as well as the 7 previously published cases, cannot explain the pathogenesis of amiodarone-induced liver changes.

The authors report the case of a 32-year old woman admitted for hepatomegaly, weight loss, and moderate diarrhea. Liver function tests showed anicteric cholestasis with slight increase in serum level of transaminases. Liver biopsy demonstrated massive steatosis. Biological and radiological investigations of the small intestine showed a malabsorption pattern. Stool fat excretion was 54 g per day. Duodenal biopsies disclosed total villous atrophy. A ten-day treatment with metronidazole (1,5 g per day), followed by a gluten-free diet, resulted in rapid improvement of hepatic and intestinal symptoms. This case report shows that: 1) adult celiac disease may be the cause of severe steatosis; 2) anicteric cholestasis with or without hepatomegaly during the course of adult celiac disease may be secondary to steatosis, as well as primary biliary cirrhosis or malignant infiltration of the liver; 3) bacterial overgrowth should be searched and eventually treated in the case of massive fatty liver occurring in adult celiac disease.

The case of a 28-year-old epileptic woman, treated for 3 months with carbamazepine and who developed jaundice, fever and exfoliative dermatitis is reported. Biological investigations showed an increase in the activity of serum transaminases and alkaline phosphatases as well as in the blood eosinophilic count. Liver biopsy revealed centrolobular necrosis and cholestasis with portal inflammatory infiltrate. Drug challenge was followed by the rapid recurrence of clinical and biological signs. The definitive outcome was favorable. The analysis of the 12 previously published cases, and particularly the frequency of granulomatous hepatitis, suggests an immunoallergic mechanism for the development of carbamazepine hepatitis.