Incidence of hepatitis C in patients with chronic elevations of aminotransferases.
BACKGROUND
We undertook a study to determine the incidence of hepatitis C in patients with persistent elevations of aminotransferases, either alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST).


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective review of medical records at the Family Practice Center from 1992 to 1993. Patients in whom aminotransferase levels were elevated 1.5 times normal for at least 6 months were eligible for the study. Sixty patients met our eligibility criteria. Patients were tested for hepatitis B and C and other possible causes of elevated aminotransferase levels.


RESULTS
Of these 60 patients, 35 (58 percent) tested positive for hepatitis C virus by first-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA-I); 30 had positive results confirmed by second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA-II). The other 5 patients were lost to follow-up, and their status was not confirmed. Of the 30 patients with a positive RIBA-II, 14 had liver biopsies showing chronic persistent hepatitis or chronic active hepatitis, both consistent with hepatitis C infection. Of the 60 patients, 2 (3 percent) had hepatitis B. None had active hepatitis B coexisting with hepatitis C.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show a much greater incidence of hepatitis C (50 percent) in our patients with chronic elevations of aminotransferase levels compared with data reported from previous studies.
Salazar
A E
AE
Family Practice Residency Program, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, New York, USA.
Hermogenes
P W
PW
Yens
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DP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase