Prognostic Significance of Elevated Cholestatic Enzymes for Fibrosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Hospital Discharged Chronic Viral Hepatitis Patients

Chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) is the root cause of liver fibrosis and subsequent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We conducted a cross-sectional, observational study based on medical records and primary data collection from patients with CVH who were admitted in five hospitals across China between February and September 2013 to determine the prevalence of elevated cholestatic enzymes (ALP and/or GGT above ULN) in discharged Chinese patients with CVH as a primary outcome and secondarily evaluated the relationship of these enzymes with fibrosis and disease severity. Majority of the patients (56%) had cholestatic enzyme elevation at discharge, with high prevalence of liver fibrosis (37.6% vs. 20.1%, p < 0.001) and cirrhosis (Child-Pugh B: 56.9% vs. 48.7%; Child-Pugh C: 17.4% vs. 12.5%; p < 0.001) in addition to significantly higher odds of liver fibrosis (OR 1.54; p = 0.024) and a trend towards higher odds of moderate-to-severe cirrhosis (OR 1.24; p = 0.317) compared to those who had normal enzyme levels. Elevated cholestatic enzyme levels serve as important prognosticators of liver fibrosis in CVH patients. Therefore, pre-discharge testing of cholestatic enzymes is recommended to identify CVH patients and provide prophylactic care.