Evaluation of chronic hepatitis and cirrhotic patients with bioelectrical impedance analysis

Background and Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there was a difference between chronic hepatitis patients, cirrhotic patients, and healthy individuals with bioelectrical impedance analysis method. Materials and Methods: Between June 2012 and June 2013, 31 chronic hepatitis B and C patients, 35 cirrhotic patients who had been followed up in the Gastroenterology outpatient clinic at Harran University Faculty of Medicine and 38 healthy individuals were included in the study. Cases were divided into three groups as chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and healthy controls. Each patient’s age, sex, height, weight, hematocrit, sodium, potassium values, and values obtained after bioelectrical impedance analysis measurements were recorded and a statistical analysis was performed. Results: The cirrhotic group’s hematocrit and blood sodium level were significantly lower (p < .05). The body capacitance value in the chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis group was higher than that in the control group (p < .05). Resistance in the chronic hepatitis B group was lower than that in the control group (p < .05). The body cell mass value in the chronic hepatitis group was higher than that in the control group (p < .05). The chronic hepatitis group’s basal metabolic rate value was higher than that of the control group (p < .05). The chronic hepatitis group’s lean body mass value was higher than that of the control group (p < .05). The chronic hepatitis group’s intracellular water and total body water values were higher than both of these were in the control group (p < .05). The phase angle was higher in the chronic hepatitis group when compared with other groups, but was not statistically significant (p > .05). Conclusion: Although this study did not find significant changes between cirrhotic patients, chronic hepatitis patients, and control groups with bioelectrical impedance analysis, detecting any changes in patients with chronic hepatitis is promising for the future regarding bioelectrical impedance analysis