THE VALIDITY OF ULTRASOUND INVESTIGATION OF THE LIVER IN HEMOPHILIACS

The liver was studied in 40 hemophiliacs by ultrasound, biochemically and immunologically. Also, diagnostic significance of ultrasound inves tigation in detection of early hepatic lesions was evaluated. Most of the patients were found to have enlarged liver, spleen, dilatation of the portal veins, changes in the gall bladder and organ echostructure, signs of liver cirrhosis, functional hepatic defects. Liver abnormali ties were discovered by ultrasound in 37.5% of hemophiliacs with norma l clinical and biochemical parameters. This fact supports diagnostic v alue of ultrasonic investigation in identification of early signs of h epatic affections. Factors of liver damage in hemophiliacs are conside red, the leading of which is long-term immunological and protein load as a result of life-long substitution therapy with preparations of blo od from different donors.