Cross-sectional analysis shows liver function tests often indicate common bile duct stones, suggesting their use in initial assessments.
Introduction: Liver function tests (LFTs) serve as a valuable tool in distinguishing between obstructive and hepatocellular causes of biliary obstruction. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of LFTs in predicting the presence of common bile duct (CBD) stones. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on patients undergoing Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for common bile duct (CBD) stones at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital between 2023 and 2024. Data were collected using a non-probability (convenience) sampling method, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 30. Results: Among the 150 patients studied, there was a noticeable predominance of older females. The overall incidence of abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) in patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones was 86%. Most LFT parameters were elevated, with serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) being the most frequently raised enzyme. Patients with biliary sludge identified on ERCP showed significantly higher levels of total, direct, and indirect bilirubin compared to those with CBD stones, and this difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Liver function tests (LFTs) are frequently abnormal in patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones so LFTcan be adopted as first-line diagnostic tests for predicting the presence of CBD stones. While LFTs are helpful in raising suspicion for choledocholithiasis, they are not definitive diagnostic tools
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Yadav et al. (2025) studied this question.
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