The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of gall stone disease in hepatic injury due to Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C viral infection and to know their association with gall stone disease.

Gall stone disease (GSD) is very common in developed and industrialized countries ⁽¹⁾.It is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal disease leading to remarkable burden to healthcare system ⁽²⁾. Some factors are well known and documented like four ‘Fs’– female, fat, forty, fertile. Age and cigarette smoking are also an important risk factors of gall stone disease^{. (3)(4)(5)} .Impaired metabolism of cholesterol, bile acid, bilirubin causes recurrent hepatobiliary disease, leading to formation of gall stones ^(6).  Recent studies shows that gall stones are detectable in liver cirrhosis ^{(7) (8)}. Patients affected with HBsAg and hepatitis C has increased risk of gall stone formation as viral hepatitis finally leads to liver cirrhosis^{. (9)(10) (11)(12) .}  Recent survey also documents that gall stone disease is more common in male as compared to female who suffers from chronic hepatitis C virus^{. (13) .}Hepatitis B is very common in India and represent as intermediate endemic level ⁽¹⁴⁾ .hepatitis C is also posing a major concern especially in Punjab. One out of hundred person in India may be chronically infected with hepatitis C ⁽¹⁵⁾ and its prevalence is relatively is higher in Punjab which is about 5.2%. Various risk factors acquiring HCV infection are sharing needle among injecting drug use, dental treatment, history of surgery and unprotected sex ^(16).Relationship between metabolic factors and Gall bladder stone and the impact of chronic hepatitis B and Hepatitis C on Gall bladder stone have been documented in some studies and needs further evaluation. Materials and Methods This isa cross sectional study conducted in AIMSR, Bathinda, Punjab and SGRRIM, Dehradun The study was  carried out  in 385 patients who  attended either medicine OPD or surgery OPD either with  already diagnosed hepatitis B or Hepatitis C or symptoms suggestive of liver disease or with digestive symptoms (other than hepatobiliary).Three groups were made – Group 1–patients infected with chronic HCV, Group 2– patient infected with HBsAg and Group 3– (control group ) Patients without viral hepatitis  for the purpose of study.Patients who had no clinical or biological signs of liver disease (hepatitis B or Hepatitis C) were taken as control group. The control group was representative of the population at risk of the outcome (gallstone disease) Serum biochemistry test LFT and hepatitis B surface antigen (HB_sAg) and antibody to hepatitis C (HCV) was done. An ultrasound abdomen (USG) was done to diagnose gall stone disease. Clearance from the institutional ethical committee was obtained for the study. Consent from the patients was taken who were subject of the study. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Patient of both gender male and female aged between ≥20 years to ≤ 70 years were taken up for the purpose of study.Exclusion criteria– alcoholic liver disease, traumatic liver assault, fatty liver due to cause other than hepatitis B and C, patients suffering from hepatitis B and hepatitis C simultaneously.CONCLUSION: There is increased prevalence of gall stone disease in HCV patients with chronic hepatitis as compared to patients positive for HBsAg and control. Gall stone disease is present in HCV patients at younger age and is more prevelent in men in the same age group as compared to control.