Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is an increasing health problem worldwide. Older age, diabetes and hypertension, acute kidney damage are among some of the factors that play a role in ESRD. This study aims at exploring liver morbidity (LM) among hemodialysis (HD) patients in an endemic country.
Methods: The study included 142 patients aged 12 to 75 years; 53.5% were males. Data were retrieved from files and all participants were examined by abdominal ultrasonography and tested for liver functions and markers and viremia of HCV and HBV.
Results: Three patterns of LM were found in 62 (43.7%); fatty in 30, fibrous in 19 and hepatitis in 13. The duration of renal impairment (p=0.02), duration of hemodialysis (p=0.011), and total dialysis sessions (p=0.007) were associated with LM. ALT and AST >40 IU/L levels were elevated in 9.9% and 9.2% of patients. All 14 patients with high ALT showed evidence of LM (p=0.017) compared to 4 of 13 patients with elevated AST (p<0.001). The ROC curve revealed ALT and AST cut-off points of 16.5 and 25.5 IU/L to discriminate LM. According to the new values, 58.5% and 40.1% of the studied participants had high ALT and AST.
Conclusion: LM is common among EDKD patients undergoing hemodialysis despite the limited role of ALT and AST. The use of ultrasonography and the new lower levels of ALT and AST could improve the screening approach of LM.
Figure 1
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Posted 25 Nov, 2020
Posted 25 Nov, 2020
Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is an increasing health problem worldwide. Older age, diabetes and hypertension, acute kidney damage are among some of the factors that play a role in ESRD. This study aims at exploring liver morbidity (LM) among hemodialysis (HD) patients in an endemic country.
Methods: The study included 142 patients aged 12 to 75 years; 53.5% were males. Data were retrieved from files and all participants were examined by abdominal ultrasonography and tested for liver functions and markers and viremia of HCV and HBV.
Results: Three patterns of LM were found in 62 (43.7%); fatty in 30, fibrous in 19 and hepatitis in 13. The duration of renal impairment (p=0.02), duration of hemodialysis (p=0.011), and total dialysis sessions (p=0.007) were associated with LM. ALT and AST >40 IU/L levels were elevated in 9.9% and 9.2% of patients. All 14 patients with high ALT showed evidence of LM (p=0.017) compared to 4 of 13 patients with elevated AST (p<0.001). The ROC curve revealed ALT and AST cut-off points of 16.5 and 25.5 IU/L to discriminate LM. According to the new values, 58.5% and 40.1% of the studied participants had high ALT and AST.
Conclusion: LM is common among EDKD patients undergoing hemodialysis despite the limited role of ALT and AST. The use of ultrasonography and the new lower levels of ALT and AST could improve the screening approach of LM.
Figure 1
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