Gallbladder wall thickening in patients with acute hepatitis.
BACKGROUND
Gallbladder wall thickening (GWT) is often observed in patients with acute hepatitis (AH). However, little is known regarding the relationship between AH and GWT. We analyzed the characteristics of GWT in patients with AH.


METHODS
Between April 2002 and April 2007, 232 patients with AH underwent a sonographic examination. The clinical and laboratory findings of patients with GWT were evaluated and compared with patients without GWT. Data were recorded for the following variables: gender, age, laboratory findings, duration of symptom, presence of gallstone, and etiology of GWT.


RESULTS
A total of 147 (63%) patients with AH had GWT. GWT in patients with an alanine aminotransferase level more than 500 IU/l (5.2 +/- 3.4 mm) was greater than that in other patients (3.9 +/- 2.3 mm; p < 0.05). Hepatitis A virus infection (odds ratio = 3.17 [1.42-7.09]), female gender (odds ratio = 2.47 [1.34-4.56]), and an elevated total bilirubin level (odds ratio = 1.09 [1.03-1.15]) were positively associated with GWT.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of GWT in patients with AH was 63%, and there was an association with hepatitis A virus infection, female gender, and an elevated total bilirubin level.
Suk
Ki Tae
KT
Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Lifelong Health, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, South Korea.
Kim
Chul Han
CH
Baik
Soon Koo
SK
Kim
Moon Young
MY
Park
Dong Hun
DH
Kim
Kyu Hong
KH
Kim
Jae Woo
JW
Kim
Hyun Soo
HS
Kwon
Sang Ok
SO
Lee
Dong Ki
DK
Han
Kwang Hyup
KH
Um
Soon Ho
SH
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin