title: Biliary tract disease and acute non-A-E hepatitis in Hong Kong: prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of biliary tract disease in patients with acute non-A-E hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infectious diseases unit, government hospital, Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one consecutive patients, admitted with the diagnosis of acute hepatitis and negative hepatitis serology for hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E virus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Abdominal ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography findings; clinical outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ultrasonographic abnormalities indicating biliary tract disease were found in 30% (18/61) of patients. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography performed in 78% (14/18) of patients with abnormal ultrasound finding(s) confirmed the presence of biliary tract disease. Age, sex, serum alanine aminotransferase level, and serum albumin level were independent predictors of biliary tract disease in the patients studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biliary tract diseases were found in 20% of patients with acute non-A-E hepatitis. Serum amylase and abdominal ultrasonography should be performed for all patients presenting with acute non-A-E hepatitis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is indicated for those with apparent gallstones or abnormal biliary tract findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Princess Margaret Hospital, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuen
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase