ABSTRACT

Hong Kong Med J 2001;7:124-30 | Number 2, June 2001
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Biliary tract disease and acute non-A-E hepatitis in Hong Kong: prospective study
TN Chau, JJY Sung, CP Kwan, C Ng, JY Lai, TST Lai, H Yuen
Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Princess Margaret Hospital, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong
 
 
OBJECTIVE. To investigate the role of biliary tract disease in patients with acute non-A-E hepatitis.
 
DESIGN. Prospective study.
 
SETTING. Infectious diseases unit, government hospital, Hong Kong.
 
PATIENTS. Sixty-one consecutive patients, admitted with the diagnosis of acute hepatitis and negative hepatitis serology for hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E virus.
 
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. Abdominal ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography findings; clinical outcome.
 
RESULTS. Ultrasonographic abnormalities indicating biliary tract disease were found in 30% (18/61) of patients. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography performed in 78% (14/18) of patients with abnormal ultrasound finding(s) confirmed the presence of biliary tract disease. Age, sex, serum alanine aminotransferase level, and serum albumin level were independent predictors of biliary tract disease in the patients studied.
 
CONCLUSION. Ultrasonographic abnormalities indicating biliary tract disease were found in 30% (18/61) of patients. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography performed in 78% (14/18) of patients with abnormal ultrasound finding(s) confirmed the presence of biliary tract disease. Age, sex, serum alanine aminotransferase level, and serum albumin level were independent predictors of biliary tract disease in the patients studied.
 
Key words: Biliary tract; Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; Hepatitis; Ultrasonography
 
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