Dissociation of alanine aminotransferase values in acute hepatitis A patients with and without past experience to the hepatitis B virus.
Serological markers and peak serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values of 140 in-patients with acute hepatitis, either type A (n = 90), or type B (n = 50) were prospectively assessed. In 23 out of the 90 patients with acute hepatitis A, evidence of previous experience with hepatitis B virus (HBV) was found, whereas 35 out of the 50 patients with acute hepatitis B had past contact with hepatitis A virus (HAV). The mean peak ALT values [S.D.] were significantly higher in hepatitis A patients with previous experience with HBV (1413 [704] i.u./l), when compared to those without such experience (842 [464] i.u./l, P less than 0.001). Such a difference was not evident between acute hepatitis B patients, whether or not they had previous contact with HAV. We conclude that when acute hepatitis A is superimposed on past HBV infection an augmented transaminaemia, indicative of enhanced liver cell necrosis, takes place although a definite explanation is lacking. We suggest that individuals with markers of HBV infection should be early candidates for HAV immunization.
Papachristou
A A
AA
Department of Adults, Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Dumas
A S
AS
Katsouyannopoulos
V C
VC
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase