Patients with chronic hepatitis--potential risks when undergoing dental surgery: review and case report.

This is a case report of a 17-year-old male patient with chronic autoimmune active hepatitis (CAAH) who was referred to our clinic for dental treatment prior to his undergoing liver transplant surgery. Coagulation problems and the implications of long-term corticosteroid usage in patients with chronic hepatitis are presented. Differences in the etiology, histology, clinical features, laboratory findings, treatment, and prognosis are reviewed for the three separate but related forms of chronic hepatitis--persistent, lobular, and active hepatitis.