Open AccessAssociation between gallbladder stones and chronic hepatitis C: Ultrasonographic survey in a hepatitis C and B hyperendemic township in Taiwan
Author(s) -
Dai ChiaYen,
Lin ChiaI,
Yeh MingLun,
Hsieh MengHsuan,
Huang ChungFeng,
Hou NaiJen,
Hsieh MingYen,
Huang JeeFu,
Lin ZuYau,
Chen ShinnCherng,
Wang LiangYen,
Chang WenYu,
Chen JongShyong,
Yu MingLung,
Chuang WanLong
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the kaohsiung journal of medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.439
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2410-8650
pISSN - 1607-551X
DOI - 10.1016/j.kjms.2012.12.004
Subject(s) - medicine , hbsag , univariate analysis , gastroenterology , hepatitis c virus , gallbladder , multivariate analysis , alanine aminotransferase , hepatitis b , hepatitis b virus , immunology , virus
Gallbladder (GB) stones have been associated with several metabolic factors and liver diseases. This community‐based study aimed at investigating the prevalence rate of GB stones and its associated factors in a hepatitis B virus (HBV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐endemic township in southern Taiwan. A total of 1701 residents (689 males and 1012 females; mean age: 51.2 ± 16.0 years) were enrolled in this prospectively designed screening project. Serum biochemistry tests, including testing for levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and antibody to HCV (anti‐HCV) were conducted. In addition, a hepatobiliary ultrasonographic (US) examination was also conducted. Of the 1701 residents, 243 (14.3%) and 475 (27.9%) were found to be positive for HBsAg and anti‐HCV, respectively. Results of the US examination revealed the prevalence rate of GB stone and fatty liver to be 6.8% and 55.6%, respectively. Using univariate analyses we found that significantly higher proportions of the participants with GB stone were male, over 50 years of age, positive for anti‐HCV ( p = 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively), with significantly higher mean age and ALT level ( p ≤ 0.001 and p = 0.048, respectively) than did those without GB stone. By applying multivariate analyses, male gender, positive anti‐HCV, and older age (>50 year) were identified as independent factors associated with the formation of GB stones. Anti‐HCV was associated with GB stones in males but not in females in both univariate and multivariate analyses. GB stones were found to have a prevalence rate of 6.8% in this HCV/HBV hyperendemic township and are associated with higher mean age. A correlation between chronic hepatitis C and GB stones is observed only among males.