Liver disease and hepatitis B markers in Iraqi hemophilic patients

ABSTRACT

Forty patients, 38 males and two females suffering from hemophilia A 72.5%, hemophilia B 15% and Von Willebrand's disease 12.5% were studied regarding evidence of liver disease and exposure to hepatitis B virus. There was a history of an attack of hepatitis in 32.5% of them, splenomegaly in 12.5% and hepatomegaly in 10%. None of them showed stigmata of chronic liver disease. Liver function studies showed an abnormality of one or another test in 72.5%. Hepatitis B markers were positive in 87.5% of them. There was no death attributed to Liver disease in one year period. We conclude from this study that our hemophiliacs are exposed to Liver disease but it sound that serious Liver disease is not common in them