Frequency of Cholelithiasis in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease: A Hospital-Based Study

Abstract

Background and study aim: Liver Cirrhosis is a strong and a common known risk factor for Cholelithiasis. Cholelithiasis is a multifactorial disease, based on a complex interaction of environmental and genetic factors. The primary aim of this study is to determine the frequency of cholelithiasis in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients admitted to Zagazig university hospitals. The secondary aim is to determine the risk factors and their association with the underlying etiology and severity of liver disease. Patients and Methods: We conducted a hospital based study including 131 patients with chronic liver disease based on clinical, laboratory and Ultrasonographic findings. Demographic, clinical and etiological data were recorded, using a pre-coded questionnaire. A number of laboratory tests as fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine amino-transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV-Ab) were analyzed. Results: The number of registered cases was 131 with age (52.9±11.7).There were 55 (42%) males and 76 (58%) females. Hepatitis C (HCV) was present in 101 (77%) cases. The prevalence of cholelithiasis was 50.4%% (66 of 131 patients). Most of cholelithiasis patients presented with child C stage (68.2%), followed by child B (21.2%) and the least one was Child A. Hepatitis C (10.6%) was found to be associated with cholelithiasis (75.8%), followed by hepatitis B (13.6%). Auto-immune disease, diabetes mellitus, contra-ceptive pills and obesity are considered risk factors for cholelithiasis. Conclusion: Cholelithiasis tends to occur more frequently in patients with decompensated CLD. The higher incidence of cholelithiasis in CLD appears to be associated with HCV infection. This is an important parameter to be considered in a country with high prevalence of HCV as Egypt.