Sonographic evaluation of liver disease severity and renal stone presence in different chronic liver diseases

Abstract

Objectives:To evaluate the prevalence of CLD causes and investigate the relationship between different CLD etiologies as well as severity of liver disease with renal stone presence.
Material and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted on 385 patients at District Headquarter Hospital Nankana Sahib, Punjab. Data was collected after approval for research ethical committee and hospital administration. Participants underwent trans-abdominal ultrasound using a GE Logic P7 machine. Data were scrutinized for liver disease causes, renal stone prevalence, and demographic factors using chi-square tests and logistic regression models.
Results:Among others, most common etiology of CLD was NAFLD (55.6%), followed by hepatitis C (25.7%) and hepatitis B (14.3%). Renal stones were observed in 32.7% of NAFLD patients, 42.4% of hepatitis C patients, and 48.1% of hepatitis B patients. Ultrasound imaging revealed that increased liver echogenicity and nodularity with ascites and increase in portal vein diameter were key markers of disease progression and renal complications. Advanced liver disease stages correlated with increased renal stone prevalence in patients without history of urinary tract stone (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
The findings also underscore the metabolic syndrome as a central driver of hepatic and renal dysfunction and emphasize the necessity for multidisciplinary approaches in managing CLD patients. NAFLD and viral hepatitis are major contributors to CLD, with significant renal complications. Ultrasound proved to be a valuable diagnostic tool, emphasizing the need for integrated hepatic and renal health assessments. Preventive strategies targeting metabolic syndrome could mitigate these systemic complications.