Gallbladder Wall Thickening as an Early Prognostic Marker in Hepatitis B and C

Abstract

Objective:

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of gallbladder wall thickening (GBWT), frequently observed in patients with acute hepatitis B and C.

Materials and Methods:

A prospective study was conducted in Pakistan that recruited 208 recently diagnosed patients who had either hepatitis B (HBV) or hepatitis C (HCV) infections. Abdominal sonography enabled the evaluation of GBWT. Laboratory investigators analyzed the liver function markers based on samples taken from these patients. Independent samples t-test analysis confirmed the comparisons of liver function markers between HBV and HCV patients. The Pearson correlation was applied to measure whether GBWT created relationships with the associated liver function measurement values.

Results:

The relationships between GBWT, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels showed moderate positive associations (r = 0.3591, p < .001 and r = 0.3554, p < .001, respectively). The extent of GBWT increased when hepatic total. The direct bilirubin levels were elevated, yet albumin decreased as severe liver disease became more pronounced. The correlation between GBWT and gallbladder volume measurements (0.6001) established a potential for evaluating hepatic disease severity (p < .001).

Conclusion:

The evaluation of GBWT demonstrated a potential as a non-invasive tool to identify early hepatitis symptoms in both HBV and HCV patients. The diagnostic capability of GBWT warrants further investigation as a diagnostic marker based on this significant relationship.