Serum alanine aminotransferase level in relation to hepatitis B and C virus infections among blood donors.
To assess the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in relation to hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among blood donors, antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were detected in 400 blood donors with normal ALT level (< or = 750 mumol/s per liter), and 76 blood donors with raised ALT level. The prevalence of anti-HCV (10.5%) and HBsAg (28.9%) in the latter was higher than that (2.0% and 17.5%, respectively) in the former (p < 0.001 and p < 0.03, respectively). There was a trend that indicated that the risk of anti-HCV positivity increased with increasing age (p < 0.001). Thirty of 76 (39.5%) donors with raised ALT level were positive for anti-HCV or HBsAg. Compared with HBsAg-positive donors, donors with anti-HCV had higher serum ALT levels (p < 0.01) and greater mean age (p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis indicated that both anti-HCV (odds ratio: 6.2; 95% confidence interval: 2.2-17.8) and HBsAg (odds ratio: 2.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.3-3.9) were significantly associated with raised serum ALT activity. The estimated population-attributable risk was 8.6% for anti-HCV, and 13.8% for HBsAg. In conclusion, although HBV and HCV infections are independent risk factors of raised ALT activity among blood donors, they play a minor role in the etiology of raised ALT activity.
Tsai
J F
JF
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical College, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Jeng
J E
JE
Ho
M S
MS
Wang
C S
CS
Chang
W Y
WY
Hsieh
M Y
MY
Lin
Z Y
ZY
Tsai
J H
JH
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D000410:Alanine Transaminase