title: Prevalence of Gall Stones in Liver Cirrhosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased incidence and prevalence of gallstones in liver cirrhosis has already been reported by many studies. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of gallstone disease in Nepali patients with LC and to identify risk factors for gallstone formation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients of LC presenting to liver clinic from January, 2010 to December, 2012 were evaluated for GS by ultrasonography at their first visit. Liver cirrhosis was diagnosed on the basis of clinical features, laboratory parameters, ultrasonography, and/or histopathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and twenty four LC patients were studied. Male to female ratio was 2.3:1. Alcohol was the major etiological factor for LC followed by hepatitis B, alone or in conjunction with alcohol. Seventy-four patients (33%) were found to have GS. Incidence of GS was more in advance stage of cirrhosis. There was no significant correlation between formation of GS and etiology of LC, except for the HCV related liver cirrhosis, in which it was present in 39% of the patients. More the advance disease,more was the incidence as 57% of Child-C patients had GS. Portal vein diameter was also associated with GS formation. When portal vein diameter was more than 13 mm, there was more GS formation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One third of the patients of LC showed GS at the presentation. Patients with HCV related cirrhosis are more prone to develop GS than other. Severity of the disease and portal vein diameter was found to be associated with GS formation.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal, Norvic International Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: K C
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khadka
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karki
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jaishi
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Regmi
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Khadka
keywords: gallstones; liver cirrhosis; ultrasonography.