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Hepatitis C genotype 4 with normal transaminases: correlation with fibrosis and response to treatment, a cohort Egyptian study of 4277 patients.

AbstractBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients with persistently normal transaminases represent a subgroup of patients with mild, slowly progressive disease, natural history, and optimal management of these patients needs to be investigated in Egypt. Our aim is to assess the severity of hepatic fibrosis and response to therapy in a cohort of Egyptian HCV patients with normal transaminases.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Retrospective demographics, laboratory, histological features and treatment outcome of patients included in the national program for the control of viral hepatitis in Egypt since 2007 were collected. Combined pegylated IFN/ribavirin therapy was given for patients with fibrosis stage ≥ F1 and elevated transaminases while those with normal transaminase; therapy was initiated only in patients with fibrosis stage ≥ F2.
RESULTS:
Normal ALT and AST were detected in 1308/4277 (30.6%) and 1662/4277 (38.9%) patients, respectively, while both enzymes were normal in 943 patients (22%). Multivariate regression analysis showed that lower AFP and higher platelets count (compared with elevated transaminases group) were significantly correlated with normal transaminases (P<0.01), however, HCV-RNA levels did not show such significance. The number of patients with HAI score ≥ A1 was significantly lower in normal than elevated transaminases (36.5% vs 40.9%, respectively, P<0.01) and patients with fibrosis ≥ F2 was significantly lower in normal than elevated transaminases (36.4%) and (43%), respectively (P<0.01). There was no significant correlation between baseline transaminases levels and response to treatment.
CONCLUSION:
Normal transaminases are frequently encountered in chronic HCV Egyptian patients (22%). They show low AFP level, mild degree of activity and stage of fibrosis with no correlation with response to therapy.
AuthorsMahasen Abdel-Rahman, Yasmin Saad, Maissa El-Raziky, Naglaa Zayed, Wafaa El-Akel, Mohamed Said, Mohamed El-Beshlawy, Gamal Esmat
JournalClinics and research in hepatology and gastroenterology (Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol) Vol. 37 Issue 5 Pg. 479-84 (Nov 2013) ISSN: 2210-741X [Electronic] France
PMID23540379 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Observational Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
CopyrightCopyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
Chemical References
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • RNA, Viral
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • alpha-Fetoproteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • peginterferon alfa-2b
  • peginterferon alfa-2a
Topics
  • Adult
  • Alanine Transaminase (blood)
  • Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases (blood)
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Egypt
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Hepatitis C (genetics)
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic (blood, drug therapy)
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
  • Liver Cirrhosis (classification, drug therapy)
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Platelet Count
  • Polyethylene Glycols (therapeutic use)
  • RNA, Viral (analysis)
  • Recombinant Proteins (therapeutic use)
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ribavirin (therapeutic use)
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Factors
  • Viral Load
  • alpha-Fetoproteins (analysis)

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