Prediction of a favorable clinical course in hepatitis C virus carriers with persistently normal serum alanine aminotransferase levels: A long‐term follow‐up study. Issue 5 (14th September 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nishimura, Takeshi; Yamaguchi, Kanji; Fujii, Hideki; Okada, Yorihisa; Yokomizo, Chihiro; Niimi, Toshihisa; Sumida, Yoshio; Yasui, Kohichiroh; Mitsuyoshi, Hironori; Minami, Masahito; Umemura, Atsushi; Shima, Toshihide; Okanoue, Takeshi; Itoh, Yoshito
• Is Part Of: Hepatology research. Volume 43:Issue 5(2013:May)
• Page Start: 557
• Page End: 562
• Publication Date: 2012-09-14
• Subjects: Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver Diseases -- Periodicals; Foie -- Maladies -- Périodiques; 616.362
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034X.2012.01091.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1386-6346

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="hepr1091-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>This study examined serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels at first visit and their relationship with long‐term normal serum ALT levels in hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers with persistently normal ALT (PNALT).</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr1091-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>HCV carriers with PNALT were identified as those patients with positivity of serum HCV RNA, ALT levels of 30 IU/L or less over a 12‐month period on at least three different occasions, platelet count of more than 15 × 10<sup>4</sup> μl/mL and body mass index of 30 kg/m<sup>2</sup> or less. Outcome was retrospectively studied in 49 HCV carriers with PNALT, who were followed up for more than 10 years.</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr1091-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>During the mean follow‐up period of 14.7 ± 2.5 years, ALT levels of 30 IU/L or less were preserved in only eight patients (8/49; 16.3%). Among the 17 patients with initial ALT levels of 19 IU/L or less, nine patients remained with ALT levels of 30 IU/L or less after 10 years (9/17; 52.9%). The probability of ALT levels in PNALT being maintained at 30 IU/L or less was significantly higher (<italic>P </italic>= 0.001) in these patients than in those with initial ALT levels of 20 IU/L or more (<italic>n</italic> = 32). Abnormal ALT levels were more common in female PNALT patients aged 45–55 years, which is usually the time of menopause onset.</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr1091-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Because antiviral therapy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C is rapidly advancing, waiting for more effective and safer treatments may be an option. The results of this study provide an important insight into this issue.</p> </sec> </abstract>