Prytz, H. & Sloth. K. 1973. Hepatic Coma in Cirrhosis of the Liver. The Course and Prognosis of 100 Consecutive Coma Episodes. Scand. J. Gastroent. 8, 229-233. One hundred consecutive episodes of hepatic coma in 61 patients with cirrhosis of the liver were examined during the period 1966-70. Fifty-seven episodes were fatal. The survival rate after the first coma episode was 55 % at 1 month, 20 % at 1 year, and 10 % at 4 years. The only precipitating factor affecting prognosis was gastrointestinal bleeding. A fatal outcome was associated with a significantly higher frequency of ascites and oedema and more abnormal values of alkaline phosphatases, aspartate transaminase, bilirubin, prothrombin and albumin, hyponatraemia, and impaired renal function. In addition to these parameters indicating impaired liver function, the prognosis was affected by age and the presence of complicating diseases.