Association of Ultrasound Abdomen Findings with Liver Function Test and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Scores in Cases of Alcohol Use Disorder

Abstract

There are three independent variables used in clinical practice to evaluate patients suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD); these are Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), liver function tests (LFTs), and imaging findings on ultrasound of the abdomen. There is limited literature about the association of imaging findings with LFT and AUDIT scores in cases of AUD. The study was conducted to determine the association of ultrasound abdomen findings with LFTs and AUDIT scores in patients with AUD. This study was conducted using data from 439 patients of AUD (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition) treated in the psychiatry department of a tertiary care hospital. The data hence obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. The ordinal data sets were compared using the Chi-square test, and P < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. The ultrasonography (USG) findings of hepatic/portal system changes in patients of AUD show a significant association with the corresponding changes in AUDIT scores, serum bilirubin, and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels. The ultrasound findings were also significantly associated with total years of drinking and average drinking (in g) per day in the last 3 years. The USG findings did not show a significant statistical association between ALT (alanine transaminase) and serum gamma-glutamyl transferase levels. In patients with alcohol use disorder, USG abdomen findings correlate with the severity of dependence as indicated by years of drinking, average alcohol consumption per day for the last 3 years, AUDIT score (last 1 year), and markers of liver injury (serum bilirubin and AST). Combined use of clinical severity indicators (e.g., AUDIT), lab parameters, and USG abdomen can help in the early diagnosis of ALD.