Background and methods: Four hundred and eighty-four patients with inflammatory bowel disease underwent clinical examination, ultrasonography, and biochemical liver function tests, to estimate the prevalence of hepatobiliary alterations. The patient group included patients without a history of liver disease. Controls were recruited from patients with functional symptoms.
Results: More patients with ulcerative colitis than controls had liver steatosis and increased alkaline phosphatase levels. Factors increasing the probability of liver damage were long-standing disease, the presence of moderate/severe disease activity, and treatment with steroids and mesalazine. A significant association was found between biliary disease and long-standing colitis and also therapy with steroids and mesalazine. Alkaline phosphatase and aminotransferase levels were significantly higher in Crohn's disease patients than in controls. Hepatic and biliary damage was found more commonly in the 1st year after diagnosis.
Conclusions: The monitoring of hepatobiliary function is suggested for patients with inflammatory bowel disease, even in the absence of symptoms and history.