Viral Hepatitis
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 21, 2005; 11(23): 3508-3513
Published online Jun 21, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i23.3508
Pancreatic involvement in chronic viral hepatitis
Yoshiki Katakura, Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi, Kiyoe Hashizume, Chiaki Okuse, Noriaki Okuse, Kohji Nishikawa, Michihiro Suzuki, Shiro Iino, Fumio Itoh
Yoshiki Katakura, Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi, Kiyoe Hashizume, Chiaki Okuse, Noriaki Okuse, Kohji Nishikawa, Michihiro Suzuki, Shiro Iino, Fumio Itoh, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan
Shiro Iino, Center for Liver Diseases, Kiyokawa Hospital, Asagaya Minami, Suginami, Tokyo 166-0004, Japan
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1, Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki 216-8511, Japan. hyotsu@marianna-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-44-977-8111 Fax: +81-44-976-5805
Received: October 5, 2004
Revised: October 6, 2004
Accepted: December 23, 2004
Published online: June 21, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To elucidate the frequency and characteristics of pancreatic disorders in the course of chronic viral hepatitis.

METHODS: We prospectively assessed the serum pancreatic enzyme levels and imaging findings in patients with chronic viral hepatitis and healthy control subjects.

RESULTS: Serum amylase (t-Amy), salivary amylase (s-Amy), pancreatic amylase (p-Amy) and serum lipase levels were higher in hepatitis patients in comparison to control subjects. However, in asymptomatic viral carriers, only the serum t-Amy levels were higher than those of the controls. The levels of each enzyme rose with the progression of liver disease in patients with hepatitis B or C; whereas the levels of each enzyme within the same clinical stage of the disease did not differ between patients diagnosed with either hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus. Imaging findings demonstrated chronic pancreatitis in only 1 out of 202 patients (0.5%).

CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that serum levels of pancreatic enzymes increase with the progression of liver disease in patients diagnosed with viral hepatitis. Pancreatic disease, asymptomatic in most cases, may represent an extrahepatic manifestation of chronic viral hepatitis.

Keywords: Hepatitis C; Hepatitis B; Pancreatic disorder; Amylase; Lipase