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Hepatic sinusoidal dilatation in rheumatoid arthritis
A Laffón1, A Moreno, A Gutierrez-Bucero
1Section of Rheumatology, Hospital de la Princesa, Autónoma University, Madrid, Spain.
Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology
|December 1, 1989
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients commonly show minor liver biochemistry changes, like elevated alkaline phosphatase, but no clinical liver disease. Liver biopsies in RA reveal sinusoidal dilation, suggesting mild hepatic involvement not requiring routine biopsy.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Rheumatology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease.
- Hepatic involvement in RA requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence and nature of liver abnormalities in adult rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of 100 consecutive adult RA patients.
- Analysis of clinical evidence of liver disease.
- Evaluation of liver biochemistry, including alkaline phosphatase.
- Liver biopsy in a subset of patients.
Main Results:
- No clinical evidence of liver disease observed in any patient.
- Minor liver biochemistry abnormalities, primarily elevated alkaline phosphatase, found in 32% of patients.
- Liver biopsies in eight patients showed sinusoidal dilation, with normal central veins and preserved hepatic architecture.
Conclusions:
- Hepatic involvement in adult RA is frequent but clinically insignificant.
- Routine liver biopsy is not recommended for RA patients due to the typically mild findings.