between June 2007 and June 2011. Habitual alcoholic patients, those with cardiac or renal disease, were excluded. Ten cases excluding the exceptions mentioned above were selected as healthy controls. The research was approved by the ethics commission of our hospital and all subjects gave their informed consent prior to inclusion in the study. The recommended dose of sonazoid was injected intravenously, and liver segment 5-6 and the right kidney were viewed simultaneously on video images. The region of interest (ROI) focused on the kidney, and the point at which 80% of the ROI in the kidney was colored was set as 0 s. The time course was then divided by color images as red up to 5 s and yellow after 5 s, to create At-PI for the liver parenchyma. Based on the At-PI, the ratio of red area to the colored area of the whole liver was calculated using Image J imaging processing software. The ratio of red area and assessment by liver biopsy (F factor) were analyzed for trends using the Jonckheere-Terpstra test, whereas multiple comparisons were performed using the Steel- Dwass test. Moreover, the usability of At-PI for diagnosis of liver fibrosis was examined by ROC curve analysis. The liver markers albumin (Alb), platelets (PLT), and prothrombin time (PT%), and the red area of each case were compared to determine the correlation coefficients and significance of differences. US was performed by a single technologist to ensure the same conditions in all cases. Cases in which there was difficulty in visualizing the liver because of intracostal narrowing, etc., were excluded. [Results] The ratio of red area in each F factor increased with progression of liver fibrosis. The ratio of red area increased significantly with Alb, PLT, PT% (R2=0.31, P=0.028/ R2=0.45, P=0.0003/ R2= 0.51, P=0.0003). [Conclusion] Hepatic arterialization accompanying with liver fibrosis of chronic hepatitis C could be visualized by analysis using At-PI. In addition, progression of hepatic arterialization and F factor were correlated with Alb, PLT, and PT%, which are representative parameters of liver function. At-PI is a useful and convenient method because it permits visualization of hepatic arterialization with clear color images, and may be feasible for clinical use in the evaluation of liver function and progression of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Sa1001 Raised Serum Immunoglobulins in Chronic Hepatitis C: Incidence and Association With Genotype, Liver Fibrosis & Sustained Viral Response Vinod S. Hegade, Kelly Forrester, Inamul Haq, Paul B. Southern, S. Moreea Background &Aims: Serum Immunoglobulins (Igs) are commonly raised in Chronic Hepatitis C (HCV) but their clinical significance is not fully known. There is also little information on the normalisation of Igs post HCV treatment. We aimed to assess 1) the incidence of raised Igs in HCV patients,2) the association between the most commonly raised Ig [Immunoglobulin G (IgG)] and genotype (G) & liver fibrosis and 3) the association between normalisation of IgG in those achieving sustained viral response (SVR). Methods: Demo- graphics, genotype, pre-and post-treatment Igs, Ishak fibrosis scores (F) and SVR of all patients undergoing treatment for HCV since 2006 was collected. Data from G2, G4, G6 and unknown genotype patients were not included in the analyses. Results:295 patients were treated in the study period: Genotype 1[G1] 71, Genotype 3[G3] 205, males 181 (mean age 45.4); females 114 (mean age 41.3). 1) 217/295 (73%) patients had raised Igs- either alone or in combination. Raised pre-treatment IgG, IgM and IgA were seen in 32%, 22% & 11% of G1 and in 56%, 16% & 8% of G3 patients respectively. A significant association between viral genotype and raised pre-treatment level was seen only with IgG (p=0.0009) and not with IgA (p=0.46) or IgM (p=0.20). 2) In G1,raised pre-treatment IgG was seen in 43% of patients with advanced fibrosis (F >4) and in 29% of patients with F≤4 [non-significant (NS) association, p=0.66].However in G3 advanced fibrosis (F>4) was significantly associated with raised pre-treatment IgG [33/41(80%) with F>4 and 70/130 (54%) with F ≤4,p=0.0031] suggesting that pre-treatment IgG can be a good predictor of advanced fibrosis. 3) Overall SVR was achieved in 34% in G1 and 65% in G3. In those who achieved SVR, normalisation of raised IgG was seen more in G3 than in G1 [52% Vs 44%, NS association, p=0.72]. Conclusions: Our study confirms: A) Presence of raised serum immunoglobulins, particularly that of IgG is common in both G1 and G3 patients. B) Significant association between raised pre-treatment IgG and advanced fibrosis is seen in G3 but not in G1. Pre-treatment IgG level can be good predictor of liver fibrosis score for G3.C) Post-SVR normalisation of IgG is seen more in G3 than in G1. Sa1002 US Military Veterans With Sustained Viral Response Have Fewer Liver Cancers Bennet Cecil Background: Hepatitis C is associated with Liver Cancer. Aims: Does successful antiviral therapy reduce liver cancer in veterans? Methods: 1832 veterans with HCV Abs between 11 July 1991 and 29 Sept 2010 were identified at the Robley Rex VAMC. Data was analyzed using Stata 10. 207 veterans (11%) were HCV RNA negative without treatment. 226 veterans (12%) were successfully treated and had SVR. 359 veterans (20%) failed Rx. 787 veterans (43%)were HCV RNA positive but not treated. 253 veterans (14%) did not have HCV RNA measured and were not treated. Five Nelson-Aalen cumulative hazard curves were made from the date of HCV dx to the date of HCC dx or were censored at the last date known alive. Results: 585 of 1372 (43%) HCV-RNA positive patients were treated and 226 of 585 (39%) achieved SVR. 78 veterans were diagnosed with liver cancer. 7 were diagnosed with HCC prior to or concurrently with HCV diagnosis. The mean interval from HCV dx to HCC dx was 5.1 yrs and the max interval was 14.1 yrs. HCC was less common in patients with SVR and in patients who were HCV Ab pos but HCV RNA neg without antiviral Rx. HCC was more common in veterans who failed treatment, did not have HCV RNA measured or were untreated. Log-rank test for equality of survivor functions for the five groups was significant. chi2(4) = 15.89 Pr>chi2 = 0.0032 Conclusion: Successful antiviral therapy is associated with significantly reduced risk of HCC. Veterans who were HCV Ab pos but HCV RNA neg without antiviral therapy also have reduced risk of HCC. Our data suggest that an aggressive approach to HCV screening and successful antiviral therapy will reduce HCC in veterans. Log-rank test for equality of survivor functions S-943 AASLD Abstracts chi2(4) = 15.89 Pr>chi2 = 0.0032 Sa1003 High Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus in Ethnically Diverse Community Patients With Non-Liver Related Gastrointestinal Complaints Kevin C. Kin, Brian Lin, Nghiem B. Ha, Kevin T. Chaung, Huy N. Trinh, Ruel T. Garcia, Khanh K. Nguyen, Huy A. Nguyen, Eduardo B. da Silveira, Brian S. Levitt, Mindie H. Nguyen Purpose: Screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) is not recommended for the general U.S. population. However, HCV may be more prevalent in certain subgroups and screening may be warranted. The goal of this study was to examine the prevalence of HCV in a large sample of ethnically diverse patients presenting for non-liver related gastrointestinal complaints. Methods: A total of 4,951 patients were queried for confirmed hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) test between 1/2001 and 2/2011 at 2 U.S. gastroenterology clinics. Patients were excluded if they were referred for liver-related reasons (n = 3,650). Ethnicities with few patients were also excluded (South Indian, Middle Eastern, non-Hispanic Black: n = 55). We determined HCV status and patient history via electronic medical record review. The following is the breakdown of referral reasons and their related issues: dyspepsia/esophageal reflux (56.3%), colon cancer screening (16%), non-variceal GI bleeding (14.5%), abnormal bowel habits (7.6%), and others (5.6%). Results: A total of 1,246 consecutive patients were included in this cross-sectional study, with the majority being Asian (81.4%). Approximately half (47%) of the patients were male, with median age of 50 years (range, 18-98). In Asian patients, 29 patients (2.9%; 95% CI 1.9-4.1%) were positive for anti-HCV test. Asians with positive anti-HCV test were more likely to have had blood transfusions (31.0% vs. 6.6%, p<0.0001) or acupuncture (10.3% vs. 1.5%, p<0.0001) than Asians with negative anti-HCV. Positive anti-HCV Asian patients were older than Asian with negative anti-HCV test (p= 0.02), with the highest prevalence (5.2%) found in patients 70 years and older. Among Asians, other risk factors such as intravenous drug use, tattoo, prior surgery, sexual contact, and exposure to dirty needles did not differ significantly between the HCV-positive and HCV-negative patients. In the comparative group of 232 non-Asians, four patients (1.7%; 95% CI 0.5-4.4%) had positive anti-HCV test. There was a trend towards older age (p= 0.08) in positive anti-HCV patients. These patients were more likely to have a history intravenous drug use (p=0.004). Conclusion: Among patients seen at community gastroenter- ology clinics for non-liver related reasons and without history of known liver diseases, HCV prevalence was 1.7% for non-Asians and 2.9% for Asians. Screening for HCV should be offered to high-risk patients presenting to gastroenterology clinics with unrelated gastrointes- tinal complaints. Figure 1. Prevalence of hepatitis C virus by age in Asian Americans AASLD Abstracts