CORRELATION OF GALL BLADDER WALL THICKENING ON ULTRASOUND WITH LIVER FUNCTION TESTS IN PATIENTS OF ACUTE HEPATITIS

Abstract Background: Gallbladder wall thickening (GWT) is detected via sonography in various pathological conditions, including acute hepatitis (AH). This study explores the correlation between GWT and liver function test (LFT) parameters in patients of AH. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done from May 2022 to November 2023 involving 67 patients diagnosed with AH. Patients with chronic hepatitis, recurrent hepatitis, or pre-existing gallbladder disease were excluded. GWT was measured using ultrasound, and its correlation with LFT parameters (AST, ALT, total bilirubin, albumin, and ALP) was analyzed using the Karl Pearson coefficient and statistical significance was determined (p<0.05). Results:Gallbladder wall thickeningwas noted with a mean thickness of 8 ± 2 mm. Positive correlation was found between anterior GWT and AST (r=0.9) and ALT (r=0.8), both statistically significant (p<0.0001). The anterior-to-posterior GWT ratio also showed a positive correlation with AST (r=0.3, p=0.002) but not with ALT. No significant correlations were found between GWT and direct bilirubin, albumin, or ALP. Discussion and Conclusion: GWT in AH patients is strongly correlated with elevated AST and ALT levels, suggesting that GWT measurement can reflect liver function status in these patients. The ratio of anterior-to-posterior GWT may provide additional insights into liver function. However, the findings are limited by the study's cross-sectional design, sample size, and population specificity. Further research with larger cohorts is recommended to validate these findings and elucidate underlying mechanisms.