The prevalence of the gallbladder stone and its associated ultrasound findings in an HCV/HBV endemic community

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence of the gallbladder stone and its associated ultrasound (US) findings in a hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) endemic community in southern Taiwan.Methods: Tzu-Kuan village is a HCV/HBV endemic community located in southern Taiwan. In 2000, a total of 944 residents (M/F: 434/510, mean age of 42.6±23.0 years) participated in our screening project. They were examined by abdominal US and checked for serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), HBsAg, and anti-HCV.Results: Of 944 patients, 181 (19.2%) and 316 (33.5%) residents were positive for HBsAg and anti-HCV, respectively. The US finding showed the prevalence of the GB stone, hepatic cyst, GB polyp, fatty liver, and intrahepatic calcified lesions (intrahepatic bile ducts stone or intrahepatic calcification) were 3.3%, 3.6%, 5.1%, 44.2%, and 7.6%, respectively. By univariate analysis, chronic HCV infection was associated with older age (p<0.001), higher prevalence of GB stone (p<0.005), and hepatic cyst (p<0.005). By using multivariate analyses, presence of GB stone and the age were significant factors associated with positive anti-HCV (odds ratio/95% confidence interval: 2.557/1.026–6.371 and 1.063/1.052–1.074). The mean age was significantly higher among residents with the GB stone than those without GB stone (p<0.01). The GB stone was more frequently found among residents who were, in addition to positive for anti-HCV, with the intrahepatic calcified lesions than those without intrahepatic calcified lesions (p<0.0001) and with the GB polyp than without GB polyp (p<0.01). No significant association between GBS and sex, positivity for HBsAg, FL, or mean ALT levels was found. By using multivariate analyses, presence of anti-HCV, the intrahepatic calcified lesions and GB polyp were significant factors associated with the presence of GB stone (odds ratio/95% confidence interval: 3.939/1.652–9.391 and 37.376/15.017–93.022, 3.370/1.085–10.464, respectively).Conclusions: The prevalence of the GB stone, in the community-based study, was 3.3% in the HCV/HBV endemic village. The GB stone was found more frequently among those who had the intrahepatic calcified lesions or GB polyps. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence of the gallbladder stone and its associated ultrasound (US) findings in a hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) endemic community in southern Taiwan. Methods: Tzu-Kuan village is a HCV/HBV endemic community located in southern Taiwan. In 2000, a total of 944 residents (M/F: 434/510, mean age of 42.6±23.0 years) participated in our screening project. They were examined by abdominal US and checked for serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), HBsAg, and anti-HCV. Results: Of 944 patients, 181 (19.2%) and 316 (33.5%) residents were positive for HBsAg and anti-HCV, respectively. The US finding showed the prevalence of the GB stone, hepatic cyst, GB polyp, fatty liver, and intrahepatic calcified lesions (intrahepatic bile ducts stone or intrahepatic calcification) were 3.3%, 3.6%, 5.1%, 44.2%, and 7.6%, respectively. By univariate analysis, chronic HCV infection was associated with older age (p<0.001), higher prevalence of GB stone (p<0.005), and hepatic cyst (p<0.005). By using multivariate analyses, presence of GB stone and the age were significant factors associated with positive anti-HCV (odds ratio/95% confidence interval: 2.557/1.026–6.371 and 1.063/1.052–1.074). The mean age was significantly higher among residents with the GB stone than those without GB stone (p<0.01). The GB stone was more frequently found among residents who were, in addition to positive for anti-HCV, with the intrahepatic calcified lesions than those without intrahepatic calcified lesions (p<0.0001) and with the GB polyp than without GB polyp (p<0.01). No significant association between GBS and sex, positivity for HBsAg, FL, or mean ALT levels was found. By using multivariate analyses, presence of anti-HCV, the intrahepatic calcified lesions and GB polyp were significant factors associated with the presence of GB stone (odds ratio/95% confidence interval: 3.939/1.652–9.391 and 37.376/15.017–93.022, 3.370/1.085–10.464, respectively). Conclusions: The prevalence of the GB stone, in the community-based study, was 3.3% in the HCV/HBV endemic village. The GB stone was found more frequently among those who had the intrahepatic calcified lesions or GB polyps.