Regression of liver fibrosis after biliary drainage in patients with choledocholith: a preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
Choledocholith is prevalent in some Asian countries and may lead to liver fibrosis and portal vein hypertension. Biliary drainage is an effective treatment for choledocholith. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of biliary drainage on liver fibrosis due to choledocholith.


METHODS
Eight patients with liver fibrosis caused by choledocholith were followed up by biochemical tests (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase) and liver biopsy before and after biliary drainage, respectively. The severity of the fibrosis was scored on a scale from 0 to 3 (0: denoting none; 1: portal and periportal fibrosis; 2: the presence of numerous fiber septa; and 3: cirrhosis). The results were analyzed statistically.


RESULTS
The severity scores of liver fibrosis in the 8 patients were 2,1; 2,1; 1,0; 1,1; 2,1; 1,1; 2,1; 1,0 before and after biliary drainage, respectively. The results showed that the average severity of liver fibrosis decreased significantly after biliary drainage (n=8, t=4.573, P=0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Liver fibrosis due to choledocholith may regress after biliary drainage.
Gao
Yuan
Y
Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Chen
Zuo-Bing
ZB
Zheng
Shu-Sen
SS
Hu
Guo-Zhi
GZ
Ding
Chen-Yan
CY
Zhang
Yun
Y
Zhao
Xue-Hong
XH
Ni
Lin-Mei
LM
D000328:Adult; D001662:Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D042883:Choledocholithiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome