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KMID : 0371619990150010027
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Journal of Wonkwang Medical Science
1999 Volume.15 No. 1 p.27 ~ p.31
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Clinical Characteristics of Males in Their Twenties with Abnormal Liver Function Test
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Kim Hye-Jung
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Abstract
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Background: Abnormal liver function is commonly seen in medical practice. In the past, hepatitis B was considered to be the primary cause of abnormal liver function in Korea. It is considered that, due to wide spread immunization, improved hygiene and changes in diet, hepatitis B has decreased while fatty livers have become the primary cause of abnormal liver function. This study was designed to evaluate the change in the distribution of causes of abnormal liver function.
Methods: The subjects of this study were 168 males in their twenties who were diagnosed with abnormal liver function during a routine health examination. The study covers the period of January 1994 to February 1996. All subjects were given a liver function test using aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, hepatitis B serologic markers(HBs Ag and Anti-HBs) and abdominal sonograms.
Results: Among the 168 subjects, 89(52.9%) were overweight and obesity, and 45(26.8%) has history of drinking alcohol and 20(11.9%) were HBsAg positive. The causes of abnormal liver function were: obesity 56(33.3%), alcohol 45(26.8%), hepatitis B 20(9.6%), medicine 16(9.5%), exercise 9(5.4%), presumption to HCV infection 9(5.4%). The rate of abnormal ultrasonogrphy finding was 36.3%(61) and among them, fatty liver was the most common finding in 55 subjects(90.2%). The causes of fatty liver were obesity 39(70.9%), unknown 10(18.2%), alcohol 15(27.3%), and medicine 4(7.3%).
Conclusions: In the males in their twenties, overweight and obesity was found as the major cause of abnormal liver function. On the other hand, fatty liver caused primarily by obesity was major cause of abnormal ultrasonographic findings.. It is proposed that one take special care in preventing obesity and fatty liver, especially nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, since these are expected to keep increasing in the future.
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KEYWORD
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abnormal liver function, obesity, fetty liver, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
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