Improvement of molar ratio of branched-chain amino acids to tyrosine (BTR) associated with liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with interferon-alpha.

Abstract

The molar ratio of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) to tyrosine (BTR), which has recently been possible to easily determine by an enzymatic method, can be clinically used as a substitute for that of BCAA to aromatic amino acids (AAA). We used this method to investigate the diagnostic implications of serum BTR in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-alpha. There was a good correlation between BTR and staging (fibrosis) scores both before and after treatment. BTR increased significantly at 24 months after treatment in the responder group (P < 0.01). Moreover, a significant increase in BTR was observed in patients with improved staging (P = 0.015), but not grading (necroinflammatory), scores. BTR in chronic hepatitis C patients seems to be reflected by the extent of liver fibrosis, and, in the responder group, it can be improved, together with liver fibrosis, by interferon-alpha treatment.

• Authors: T Ninomiya, S Yoon, M Sugano, Y Kumon, Y Seo, K Shimizu, H Nagano, M Kasuga, Y Hayashi
• Journal: Digestive diseases and sciences (Dig Dis Sci) Vol. 44 Issue 5 Pg. 1027-33 (May 1999) ISSN: 0163-2116 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10235614 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Amino Acids, Branched-Chain
• Interferon-alpha
• Tyrosine

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Amino Acids, Branched-Chain (blood)
• Female
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (blood, complications, pathology, therapy)
• Humans
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Liver (pathology)
• Liver Cirrhosis (blood, etiology, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Tyrosine (blood)