Clinico-Pathological Profile of patients Suffering from Chronic Liver Disease Secondary to Viral Hepatitis

Abstract

Aim: To analyze clinical, biochemical & treatment profile of patients suffering from CLD secondary to viral hepatitis in our region.

Duration & place of study: Descriptive study, January 2021 to July 2021 at Frontier Medical & Dental College, Abbottabad

Methods: All patients having chronic liver disease secondary to viral hepatitis with or without complications were enrolled in this study. A diagnosis was made based on clinical findings, biochemical tests, ultrasonography of abdomen and upper GI endoscopy findings. Inclusion criteria further included presence of stigmata suggestive of chronic liver disease and clinical and laboratory parameters which were indicative of portal hypertension. Patients who refused to give consent, pregnant female patients and patients suffering from CLD caused by etiological factors other than hepatitis viruses and who were terminally ill were excluded.

Results: Mean age of these patients was 41.25±12.59 years. There were 138 males and only 16 female patients. Majority of the patients, 79.22%, developed anorexia. A large number of patients, 82.47%, had hepatomegaly while 58.44% had firmness in their liver. About 79.87% had splenomegaly, 66.23% had spider naevi, 86.36% had ascites and 87.67% had esophageal varices. Almost half of our patients, 50.65%, used steroid therapy while a large majority of them, 85.06%, were taking antiviral treatment. Mean values of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin and prothrombin time (PT) were 1.43±1.21 mg/dL, 105.33±51.51 U/L, 85.89±89.65 U/L, 3.82±0.65 g/dL, 62.57±22 seconds respectively.

Conclusion: Chronic liver disease secondary to viral hepatitis especially hepatitis B and C virus is quite common in our country. It presents with typical stigmata both clinically and pathologically. There is a need to identify these stigmata and diagnose this condition early to avoid complications in these patients.

Keywords: Hepatitis, antiviral, hepatomegaly, liver, bilirubin