PREVALENCE OF CHOLELITHIASIS IN IRAQI PATIENTS WITH HEPATITIS B INFECTION

Abstract

Liver Cirrhosis is a strong and a commonknown risk factor for Cholelithiasis. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of cholelithiasis in patients with hepatitis B virus infection and determine gall stone and their association with hepatitis B virus infection in Iraqi patients.
Patients and Methods: study involved 131 patients with chronic liver disease according to clinical, laboratory and Ultrasonographic findings. in addition, 45-individual with no evidence with hepatitis B virus infection as control groups alkaline phosphatase (ALP), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were analyzed. ELISA test used to detect hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and sonography was done to determine presence or absence of gallstones.
Results: The results showed that Hepatitis B (HBV) was present in 77.8% with a highly significant difference (p<0.001) between patient groups when compared to control groups. Also, increase in Alkaline phosphates in 31.2% with highly significant difference (p<0.001) between patient groups and control group. The prevalence of cholelithiasis was 79.4% as significantly higher (P<0.001) in the patients subjects as compared with control subject. In this study was observed that 33.3% of the patients infected with hepatitis B virus were show increase in alkaline phosphates. Statistically highly significant association was found between abnormal increase in alkaline phosphates and hepatitis B virus positive results (P<0.001). In study appeared that 82.4% of the patients infected with hepatitis B infection (84 of 102 cases) were positive for stone formation (cholelithiasis) as Highly significant association between HBV status and gallbladder stones (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Cholelithiasis tends to occur more frequently in patients with hepatitis B virus infection. There is a strong association between HBV infection and gallstones. So, HBV infection is definitely a risk factor for gallstone disease.