Korean J Med.  2001 Jan;60(1):40-45.

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

• Choi MS
• Lee JH
• Koh KC
• Paik SW
• Rhee PL
• Kim JJ
• Rhee JC
• Choi KW
• Kim SH

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.

Keyword

Hepatitis B, Chronic; Lymph nodes

MeSH Terms

Fibrosis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B, Chronic*
Hepatitis, Chronic*
Humans
Ligaments
Liver*
Lymph Nodes*
Ultrasonography
Viremia