Present status of fulminant hepatitis in Japan (1989-1991).

This paper describes the present status of fulminant hepatitis (FH) in Japan and focuses, in particular, on recent activities of the Research Subgroup of FH between 1989 and 1991. Both epidemiological and multi-institution surveys have demonstrated that the annual incidence of FH has decreased and that the survival rate is definitely improving, at least in the acute form of FH. Our goal, however, is to achieve a survival rate of greater than 50% overall for FH nationwide. To this end, a liaison across Japan of regional core hospitals with intensive care units has been organized to exchange opinions and experience in the clinical management of FH. Moreover, new specific and intelligent therapeutic modalities must be developed through basic research projects which focus on finding a means of inducing a necrotic liver to regenerate.