A One Year Cross Sectional Study Of Cutaneous Manifestations In Patients With Chronic Liver Disease And Its Association With Liver Function Tests

Abstract

Background and objectives Chronic liver disease may present with numerous dermatological conditions. The present study explored the spectrum of cutaneous features in patients with chronic liver disease and its association with liver function tests. Methodology This one year cross sectional study was done under the settings of Department of Dermatology Venereology and Leprosy, of KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Belagavi from January 2014 to December 2014. A total of 75 patients who presented with chronic liver disease during the study period were included in the study. Patients were subjected to complete dermatological examination and liver function tests. Results Majority (96%) of the patients were males. The male to female ratio was 24:1. The commonest age group was 41 to 50 years (34.67%) and the mean age was 51.09 ± 11.69 years. 66.67% of the patients had duration of CLD of less than or equal to one year and alcoholic cirrhosis (61.33%) was the commonest type liver disease. Out of 75 patients studied, 64 (85.33%) had cutaneous manifestations and jaundice was the commonest manifestation (53.33%). The prominent nail change observed was onycholysis (8%). Most of the patients had raised direct biliruibin (93.33%), SGOT (93.33%), SGPT (81.33%), and total bilirubin (68%) levels and low A:G ratio (78.67%) and serum albumin (48%). The mean total and direct bilirubin levels were significantly high in patients with cutaneous manifestations (p<0.001). Also, positive association of cutaneous manifestations was noted with age (p=0.005) and the mean age was significantly low in patients with cutaneous manifestations (p=0.004). Conclusion There is high rate of cutaneous manifestations in patients with chronic liver disease. The common cutaneous manifestatons are jaundice and pruritus while shiny nails and finger clubbing are common nail features. There is direct relationship between raised total and direct bilirubin levels with cutaneous manifestations and cutaneous manifestations are common in younger age group.