Investigation of liver diseases using liver Doppler ultrasound in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is characterized by chronic inflammation, which may be associated with hepatic and biliary manifestations such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Despite the high risk of hepatic manifestations among patients with IBD, few studies in Brazil have assessed the frequency of these diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the prevalence of liver disease by ultrasound in patients with IBD. This was a single-center, cross-sectional study that included patients with IBD who were followed up at an outpatient clinic. The clinical and sociodemographic data, disease activity, biochemical test results, and Doppler liver ultrasonography results were assessed. Descriptive and association tests were used for statistical analyses. A total of 138 patients were included: 64.49% females, mean age 45.55±14.17 years, and body mass index of 26.92±5.07 kg/m2. In total, 63 (45.65%) patients had CD and 75 (54.35%) had UC. Most patients were in either clinical (58.39%) or endoscopic remission (52.55%). Liver ultrasound revealed NAFLD in 58 patients (42.03%), which was classified as mild (36.21%), moderate (46.55%), or severe (17.24%). Seven patients had choledocholithiasis and three had chronic liver disease. Liver disease was associated with changes in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hematocrit, hemoglobin, and fasting glucose levels. Liver disease is frequent in IBD patients, with NAFLD being the most prevalent. Screening for liver disease in patients with IBD is recommended for early detection and immediate treatment of the alterations, in order to prevent complications and progression to cirrhosis.