RELATIONSHIP OF AMINOTRANSFERASES TO LIVER HISTOLOGICAL STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C

Abstract

Previous studies concerning the correlation between semm aminotransferases levels and histological changes in CHC patients showed inconclusive results. Serum aminotransferases levels characteristically fluctuate during the course of chronic HCV infection. So, could not indicate activity or severity of liver disease. The purpose of our study was to determine the relationship among clinical features, aminotransferases levels, other laboratory results, serum HCV-RNA titers, and liver histological findings based on a histological activity index (HAI). We studied 40 patients with serologically confirmed CHC.

Mean age, was 39.35+9.23 years, M/F ratio was 3.4. Mode of transmission was percuteneous in 20%, non-percuteneous in 2.5% and unknown in 77.5% of patients. Symptoms attributable

to chronic liver disease were present in 42.5% of the patients while 57.5% were asymptomatic, 32.5% had signs of chronic liver disease, and only 20% had both. Ten healthy individuals were taken as controls of matched age and sex. However, neither symptoms nor signs of chronic liver disease were related to serum aminotransferases levels, nor were they predictive of liver histological status. Serum ALT, AST, GGT, T.Bil, PT levels were significantly elevated when compared with controls.