Relationships between serum aminotransferase levels, liver histologies and virological status in patients with chronic hepatitis C in Taiwan

J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 1998 Jul;13(7):685-90. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1998.tb00714.x.

Abstract

In patients with chronic hepatitis C, the relationships between serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, histological liver injury and serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA titres remain controversial. To evaluate these relationships, 93 Chinese patients with histological diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C were enrolled for this study. Serum ALT levels, HCV-RNA titres and HCV genotypes were examined. The histology was evaluated according to a modified histological activity score based on the degree of periportal necro-inflammation, intralobular necro-inflammation, portal inflammation, total necro-inflammation and fibrosis. The mean serum ALT level was significantly higher in patients with severe intralobular necro-inflammation activity than in patients with mild or no activity (P = 0.013). However, scores of intralobular activity were only weakly correlated with serum ALT levels (r = 0.27) and could not be used to adequately predict ALT values. Serum ALT levels showed no significant correlation with the scores of portal inflammation, periportal necro-inflammation, total necro-inflammation and fibrosis. Also, there was no significant difference in the mean serum ALT level among different serum HCV-RNA levels and HCV genotypes. Serum HCV-RNA titres and genotypes showed no significant correlation with liver histology and serum HCV-RNA titres were only weakly correlated with the total necro-inflammatory score (r = 0.27). In conclusion, although serum ALT levels were higher in patients with more severe intralobular necro-inflammatory activity, the correlation was not strong enough to adequately predict ALT values. Serum HCV-RNA titres and genotypes also showed no significant correlation with serum ALT levels and liver histologies.

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / blood*
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Clinical Enzyme Tests*
  • Female
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepacivirus / isolation & purification*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology
  • Humans
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • RNA, Viral / blood*
  • Taiwan / epidemiology

Substances

  • RNA, Viral
  • Alanine Transaminase