title: Gallbladder wall thickening in patients with acute hepatitis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Lifelong Health, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Suk
authors.forename: Chul Han
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soon Koo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Baik
authors.forename: Moon Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong Hun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyu Hong
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Ok
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Dong Ki
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang Hyup
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Soon Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Um
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin