Seasonal variability in the activity of common chronic liver diseases.

Abstract

Seasonal variations in flu-like illnesses and vaccinations, vitamin D levels, alcohol intake, and sedentary lifestyles raise the possibility that seasonal variations exist in the severity of immune-mediated, alcohol, and obesity- or dyslipidemia-related chronic liver diseases, respectively. We documented months-seasons in which biochemical evidence of disease activity is greatest in adult patients with common liver disorders. Months-seasons associated with peak liver enzyme levels in patients with largely immune-mediated disorders (autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis [PBC], and primary sclerosing cholangitis), alcoholic liver disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were documented from a hospital-based, liver diseases outpatient clinic database. Aside from a spike in the severity of PBC during July (p < .005), no significant associations were found between months-seasons and peak liver enzyme activities in any of these liver disorders. These findings suggest that seasonal illnesses or immunizations and vitamin D depletion, alcohol intake, and sedentary lifestyle do not significantly exacerbate common underlying immune-mediated, alcohol, or metabolic liver disorders, respectively.