Abstract | BACKGROUND: OBJECTIVE: To compare histologic scoring of liver pathology in patients with chronic HCV infection with normal or elevated serum ALT. METHODS: Liver biopsies were performed in patients with HCV infection and either normal (n=40) or elevated (n=76) serum ALT levels, and scored for activity and fibrosis using the modified histological activity index. RESULTS: Patients with normal ALT and elevated ALT had similar demographic features. Median (range) histological activity grade was higher in patients with elevated ALT than in those with normal ALT (6 [1-15] vs. 5 [0-11], respectively; p=0.001), as was the fibrosis stage (2 [0-6] vs. 1[0-6]; p=0.02). Two patients with normal ALT and 4 with elevated ALT had liver cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with chronic HCV infection, liver lesions are milder in those with normal serum ALT levels than those with abnormal ALT levels. However, some patients with normal ALT too may have advanced liver disease.
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Authors | Taraneh Dor-Mohammadi, Nasser Ebrahimi Daryani, Mohammad Bashashati, Ali-Asad Hashtrudi, Babak Haghpanah, Ali-Reza Sayyah, Madjid Shakiba |
Journal | Indian journal of gastroenterology : official journal of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology
(Indian J Gastroenterol)
2005 Mar-Apr
Vol. 24
Issue 2
Pg. 49-51
ISSN: 0254-8860 [Print] India |
PMID | 15879648
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Alanine Transaminase
(blood)
- Female
- Hepatitis C, Chronic
(enzymology, pathology)
- Humans
- Liver
(pathology)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Retrospective Studies
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