TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and etiology of altered liver tests
T2 - A population-based survey in a Mediterranean town
AU - Pendino, Gaspare Maria
AU - Mariano, Andrea
AU - Surace, Pasquale
AU - Caserta, Carmelo Antonio
AU - Fiorillo, Maria Teresa
AU - Amante, Angela
AU - Bruno, Stefania
AU - Mangano, Carmelo
AU - Polito, Irene
AU - Amato, Fulvia
AU - Cotichini, Rodolfo
AU - Stroffolini, Tommaso
AU - Mele, Alfonso
AU - Gutamo, Giovanni
AU - Marra, Marisa
AU - Giovinazzo, Girolamo
AU - Pelle, Antonino
AU - Falletti, Antonio
AU - Martino, Franco
AU - Pisano, Francesco
AU - Iamundo, Caterina
AU - Giovinazzo, Antonino
AU - Licordari, Amalia
AU - Maugeri, Gino
AU - Luccisano, Giuseppe
AU - Caligiuri, Marcella
AU - Surace, Monica
AU - Carpentieri, Maria Stella
AU - Messineo, Federica
AU - Alicante, Saverio
PY - 2005/5
Y1 - 2005/5
N2 - Serum biochemical liver tests (LTs) (ALT, AST, GGT) and platelet counts are often used to screen for chronic liver disease. Population-based data on abnormal LTs in Mediterranean areas are lacking. The prevalence and etiology of abnormal LTs were assessed from 2002 to 2003 in a 1 in 5 systematic random sample of the general population who were 12 years of age or older in Cittanova, a southern Italian town with 10,600 inhabitants. LTs, indices of metabolism, and markers of HBV and HCV infection were assayed and alcohol intake was recorded in the selected population. In virus-free individuals with abnormal LTs, LTs were retested, and upper abdominal echography and tests for other causes of liver damage were undertaken. Among the 1,645 individuals screened, the prevalence of anti-HCV was 6.5%; the prevalence was particularly high in individuals over 50 years of age. The corresponding prevalence for HBsAg was 0.8%. The overall prevalence of individuals with abnormal LTs was 12.7% (95% CI: 11.1-14.3). The probable cause of abnormal LTs was excessive alcohol in 45.6%, HCV in 18.6%, HBV in 1%, alcohol plus HCV and/or HBV in 8.8%, and rare diseases in 2%. In 24% of individuals with abnormal LTs, the probable cause was nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); in this subgroup, increased body weight, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperglycemia were common, and 63.3% of them had a bright liver at echography. In conclusion, in southern Italy, a Mediterranean area where dietary habits are different from those in industrialized areas, one eighth of the general population has abnormal LTs suggestive of possible liver damage; NAFLD appears to be emerging as a potentially important etiology of this presumed liver injury.
AB - Serum biochemical liver tests (LTs) (ALT, AST, GGT) and platelet counts are often used to screen for chronic liver disease. Population-based data on abnormal LTs in Mediterranean areas are lacking. The prevalence and etiology of abnormal LTs were assessed from 2002 to 2003 in a 1 in 5 systematic random sample of the general population who were 12 years of age or older in Cittanova, a southern Italian town with 10,600 inhabitants. LTs, indices of metabolism, and markers of HBV and HCV infection were assayed and alcohol intake was recorded in the selected population. In virus-free individuals with abnormal LTs, LTs were retested, and upper abdominal echography and tests for other causes of liver damage were undertaken. Among the 1,645 individuals screened, the prevalence of anti-HCV was 6.5%; the prevalence was particularly high in individuals over 50 years of age. The corresponding prevalence for HBsAg was 0.8%. The overall prevalence of individuals with abnormal LTs was 12.7% (95% CI: 11.1-14.3). The probable cause of abnormal LTs was excessive alcohol in 45.6%, HCV in 18.6%, HBV in 1%, alcohol plus HCV and/or HBV in 8.8%, and rare diseases in 2%. In 24% of individuals with abnormal LTs, the probable cause was nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); in this subgroup, increased body weight, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperglycemia were common, and 63.3% of them had a bright liver at echography. In conclusion, in southern Italy, a Mediterranean area where dietary habits are different from those in industrialized areas, one eighth of the general population has abnormal LTs suggestive of possible liver damage; NAFLD appears to be emerging as a potentially important etiology of this presumed liver injury.
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U2 - 10.1002/hep.20689
DO - 10.1002/hep.20689
M3 - Article
C2 - 15841464
AN - SCOPUS:20944449901
VL - 41
SP - 1151
EP - 1159
JO - Hepatology
JF - Hepatology
SN - 0270-9139
IS - 5
ER -