HCV infection is a risk factor for gallstone disease in liver cirrhosis: an Italian epidemiological survey

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Hepatology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Gallbladder disease, encompassing gallstones and cholecystectomy, is a common condition.
• The interplay between liver disease etiology and gallbladder disease prevalence requires further investigation.
• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) are major causes of chronic liver disease globally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of gallbladder disease in patients with liver disease.
• To assess the association between the severity and etiology of liver disease and gallstone disease.
• To identify risk factors for gallstone disease in patients with chronic liver conditions.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter study involving 79 Italian hospitals over a 6-month period.
• Inclusion of patients with anti-HCV positive, HBsAg positive, and excessive alcohol intake.
• Multiple logistic regression analysis to evaluate the independent effect of liver disease severity and etiology on gallstone disease prevalence, adjusting for age and BMI.

Main Results:

• Gallstone disease prevalence was 23.3% in anti-HCV positive, 12.4% in HBsAg positive, and 24.2% in excessive alcohol intake groups.
• Prevalence of gallstone disease increased with age across all etiological categories.
• HCV-related cirrhosis was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of gallstone disease (OR 2.13) compared to HBV-related cirrhosis, after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusions:

• Hepatitis C virus infection is an independent risk factor for gallstone disease.
• HCV-related cirrhosis increases the risk of gallstone disease compared to HBV-related cirrhosis.
• The high prevalence of HCV in Italy necessitates careful consideration of surgical risks, such as cholecystectomy, in cirrhotic patients due to associated morbidity and mortality.