Thirteen cases of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) were diagnosed from 1990 to 2003 in the area of the Hospital de Sagunto (Valencia, Spain), which attends a population of 112,003 inhabitants aged more than 14 years (54,622 males and 57,381 females). The diagnostic criteria of the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group were used and patients who, despite having a probable diagnosis of AIH, presented hepatitis C virus infection were excluded. The diagnosis was probable in one patient and definitive in 12. All patients, 11 females and two males aged 45.9 12.2 years (range: 28-66), were classified as AIH type 1. Among the population aged more than 14 years, the mean annual incidence of AIH was 0.83 cases/100,000 inhabitants (95% CI, 0.44-1.42) (range: 0-2.68), showing a significant trend to increase (b = 0.132; p = 0.019). The incidence was higher in women than in men (RR = 5.24; 95% CI, 1.16-23.62). The mean annual incidence was 1.37 (95% CI, 0.68-2.46) (range: 0-3,49) in women and was 0.26 (95% CI, 0.02-0.96) (range: 0-1.83) in men. By age, the maximum mean annual incidence was observed in the group aged 55-64 years (1.6 cases/100,000 inhabitants). The prevalence of AIH in September 2003 was 11.61 cases/100,000 inhabitants aged more than 14 years (95% CI, 6.78-19.86). The prevalence was 3.66 (95% CI, 1-13.35) in men and was 19.17 (95% CI, 10.70-34.33) in women.

Durante los años 1990 a 2003, en el área de cobertura del Hospital de Sagunto (Valencia), con una población asistida de 112.003 habitantes de más de 14 años de edad (54.622 varones y 57.381 mujeres), se diagnosticaron 13 casos de hepatitis autoinmune (HAI). Los criterios diagnósticos utilizados fueron los del International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group, y se excluyó a los pacientes que, pese a tener un diagnóstico probable de HAI, presentaban infección por el virus de la hepatitis C. El diagnóstico fue probable en 1 y definitivo en 12 pacientes. Todos los casos, 11 mujeres y 2 varones de 45,9 ± 12,2 años de edad (límites, 28-66), se clasificaron como HAI tipo 1. Entre la población de más de 14 años de edad, la incidencia media anual de HAI fue de 0,83 casos/100.000 habitantes (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 0,44-1,42; límites: 0-2,68), y se observó una tendencia significativa (b = 0,132; p = 0,019) a su incremento. La incidencia fue mayor en mujeres que en varones (riesgo relativo = 5,24; IC del 95%, 1,16-23,62). En mujeres, la incidencia media anual fue de 1,37 (IC del 95%, 0,68-2,46; límites: 0-3,49), y en varones, de 0,26 (IC del 95%, 0,02-0,96; límites: 0-1,83). Por edades, la incidencia media anual máxima se observó en el grupo de 55-64 años (1,6 casos/100.000 habitantes). La prevalencia de HAI en septiembre de 2003 era de 11,61 casos/100.000 habitantes de más de 14 años de edad (IC del 95%, 6,78-19,86). En varones, la prevalencia era de 3,66 (IC del 95%, 1-13,35), y en mujeres, de 19,17 (IC del 95%, 10,70-34,33). Thirteen cases of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) were diagnosed from 1990 to 2003 in the area of the Hospital de Sagunto (Valencia, Spain), which attends a population of 112,003 inhabitants aged more than 14 years (54,622 males and 57,381 females). The diagnostic criteria of the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group were used and patients who, despite having a probable diagnosis of AIH, presented hepatitis C virus infection were excluded. The diagnosis was probable in one patient and definitive in 12. All patients, 11 females and two males aged 45.9 ± 12.2 years (range: 28-66), were classified as AIH type 1. Among the population aged more than 14 years, the mean annual incidence of AIH was 0.83 cases/100,000 inhabitants (95% CI, 0.44-1.42) (range: 0- 2.68), showing a significant trend to increase (b = 0.132; p = 0.019). The incidence was higher in women than in men (RR = 5.24; 95% CI, 1.16-23.62). The mean annual incidence was 1.37 (95% CI, 0.68-2.46) (range: 0-3,49) in women and was 0.26 (95% CI, 0.02-0.96) (range: 0-1.83) in men. By age, the maximum mean annual incidence was observed in the group aged 55-64 years (1.6 cases/100,000 inhabitants). The prevalence of AIH in September 2003 was 11.61 cases/ 100,000 inhabitants aged more than 14 years (95% CI, 6.78-19.86). The prevalence was 3.66 (95% CI, 1-13.35) in men and was 19.17 (95% CI, 10.70-34.33) in women.

The inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) follows distinct patterns.Norther countries have the highest rates of the disease.bycontrast countries in southern Europe have lower incidence rates.Howewer, it appears that, in Europe, southern countries are "catching up" to their northern neighbors.Aim:a) to analyze the IBD evolutive trend in our sanitary area (Sagunto-.Spain), and b) to confirm the existence of northern and southern differences.. Methods:We performed a prospective and descriptive study of population, that covered the time included between the years 1990-98.AII the cases were detected, working the Hospital of Sagunto (123,000 persons) a center of reference.AlI the cases complied the diagnostic criteria of Lennard-Jones.We calculated the crude rates of incidence (CRI) and the truncated rate incidences for the population group between 15-64y in addition to the rate incidence adjusted (RIA) to the standard european population.Finally, we realized a tendency analysis of the respective incidence rates by method of simple regression, comparing the results of this period with results of a previous work that was realized in the same area (1983)(1984)(1985)(1986)(1987)(1988)(1989).Results: I 15 patients were diagnosticated (72 ulcerative colitis,UC; 39 Crohn's disease,CD; and 4 indeterminate colitis).The results of CRI and RIA are expresed in the Table .If we compare the incidence between the two time periods,we observe a significative increase of UC incidence (6,52 vs 4,08 casesll 05 persons/y) and in global IBD too (l0,43 vs 7,15 cases/f O' persons/y), but not in CD (3,55 vs 3,01 cases/In" persons/y).The prevalence at the end of the study has been 63,30, 52,56 and 121,06 cases per 105 population for UC, CD and the global of IBD, respectively.Conclusions: IBD and UC particularly, is an illness of high incidence in Sagunto (Spain), with a clear increase tendence.We are attending at a progresssive reduction of nothernlsouthern difference, more obvious in CD.