title: Correlation between serum HCV RNA and aminotransferase levels in patients with chronic HCV infection.
abstract: Cross-sectional studies on the correlation between serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C have yielded conflicting results. We conducted a longitudinal study to examine the correlation between HCV viremia and serum ALT levels in individual patients over time. Serial samples (mean 9) from 25 patients with chronic HCV infection, including interferon-treated and untreated immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients, collected over a period of 1-4.8 years (mean 2.6 years) were tested for HCV RNA and ALT levels using a highly reproducible quantitative (bDNA) assay. A significant correlation was found between serum HCV RNA and ALT levels in the patients who received IFN therapy, but no correlation was observed in the untreated patients. Among the untreated patients, the immunosuppressed patients had significantly higher HCV RNA levels (39 +/- 4 vs 3.6 +/- 8 Meq/ml, P < 0.0001) but significantly lower ALT (56 +/- 11 vs 97 +/- 12 units/liter, P = 0.03) levels when compared to the immunocompetent ones. In summary, we found no correlation between serum HCV RNA and ALT levels in chronic hepatitis C patients who are not receiving interferon therapy. Immunosuppression results in higher HCV RNA but lower ALT levels.
authors.affiliation: Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ghany
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Pescador
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urdea
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lok
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D007372:Interferons; D000410:Alanine Transaminase