Enlarged perihepatic lymph nodes reflects histologic and biochemical inflammatory activity of the liver in chronic hepatitis B / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: It is common to find enlarged lymph nodes within hepatoduoedenal ligament during ultrasonography in patients with chronic hepatitis B. But, its clinical significance has not been clearly understood. METHODS: Lymph node volume within the hepatoduodenal ligament in 50 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 15 healthy controls was evaluated using ultrasonography. In patients with chronic hepatitis B, possible correlation of lymph node volume with biochemical tests, hepatitis activity index, and hepatitis B viremia was investigated. RESULTS: One or more lymph nodes were detected in 48 (96%) out of 50 patients with chronic hepatitis B (volume=3.4+/-2.4 mL, mean+/-S.D.) and 2 (13%) out of 15 controls (volume=0.4 mL, 0.6 mL). In chronic hepatitis B, lymph node volume showed a significant correlation with serum AST (r=0.66), ALT (r=0.63), gammaGT (r=0.53), total score of histologic activity index (r=0.59), and necroinflammatory score (r=0.59, p<0.05 for all); but not with fibrosis score and serum hepatitis B viremia. CONCLUSION: Enlarged perihepatic lymph nodes reflects histologic and biochemical inflammatory activity of the liver in chronic hepatitis B.