Hepatobiliary disorders among naïve patients with ulcerative colitis in Upper Egypt

Background and study aimsAssociation of ulcerative colitis (UC) with hepatobiliary disorders is well recognised. The most common hepatobiliary complications of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are fatty liver infiltration and cholelithiasis. The prevalence of liver dysfunction in IBD remains unclear. The aim of the study is to try to identify the frequency and risk factors of hepatobiliary disorders among patients with UC in Upper Egypt.Patients and methodsWe prospectively analysed 33 patients with newly diagnosed UC of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, Assiut University Hospital. For all participants, the following were conducted: clinical evaluation, abdominal ultrasonography (US) examination and laboratory investigations. Risk factors of hepatobiliary disorders were identified using univariate, then multivariate analysis.ResultsThe frequency of hepatic disorders (fatty liver and elevated liver chemistry) was 75.8% in study patients while the frequency of biliary disorders (gallbladder stones and gallbladder wall thickening) was 54.5%. A higher risk of hepatic disorders was observed with older age (odds ratio (OR) 14, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2–124). A higher risk of biliary disorders was observed with UC severe activity index (OR 27, 95% CI 3–292).ConclusionsThe frequency of hepatobiliary disorders in patients with UC exceeded what was previously reported. High frequency of hepatic disorders was related to older age, while that of biliary disorders was related to UC activity.