Doppler Sonographic Changes of Portal Vein in Chronic Hepatitis C Versus Normal Healthy Population

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by hepatitis c virus (HCV is RNA virus). The virus can cause both acute and chronic infection, ranging in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness 1 . The hepatitis c virus is blood born virus and is most common modes of infections are through unsafe injection practices; inadequate sterilization of medical equipments; and transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products. 2 Objective: To evaluate Doppler Sonographic changes of portal vein in chronic hepatitis C versus normal healthy population.Methodology: Different types of Doppler ultrasound machines Toshiba, Aloka and Esote equipped with 3.5-5 MHZ curve linear multi-frequency transducer was used to scan the liver and portal venous system.Results: In this study, 40 patients were scanned, 20 of them were HCV positive and 20 were normal subjects. out of 20 HCV positive patients, 13 were male and 7 were female, while in normal subjects 11 were male and 9 were female The mean portal vein flow velocity in HCV positive patient was 11.1015 ± 2.6470 which is reduced as compared to normal subjects 20.4400 ±4.37558. The portal vein flow direction in normal subjects was hepatopetal flow while in HCV positive patients flow was hepatofugal flow in 12 patients and hepatopetal in 8 patients.Conclusion: We conclude from our results that HCV positive patient population shows various changes in liver size, echo texture, blood flow characteristics and some other associated features like ascites and collateral formation as a result of portal hypertension.