title: Relationship between five-year histological outcome and serial changes in serum alanine aminotransferase in patients with biochemical and virological relapse after interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between serial changes in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and histological outcome 5 years after treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C with interferon (IFN).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively evaluated 61 consecutive patients who underwent two liver biopsies, just before and 5 years after a 6-month course of IFN therapy, and who showed a relapse after therapy. The extent of liver fibrosis was estimated using a scale with seven grades.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of 6-month IFN therapy, 40 (65.6%) patients had normal serum ALT concentrations. However, 13 of the 40 patients relapsed within 6 months after IFN therapy. The average ALT during 5 years in 40 patients was less than or equal to 75 IU/l, while in the other 21 patients it was more than 75 IU/l. Among the 40 patients with a mean ALT less than 75 IU/l, 13 (33%) patients showed histological improvement, 26 (65%) showed no changes and only 1 patient (2%) showed worsening of liver fibrosis. On the other hand, among the 21 patients with a mean ALT of more than 75 IU/l, only 1 (5%) patient showed improvement, 8 (38%) showed no changes and 12 patients (57%) showed worsening of liver fibrosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a significant relationship between 5-year histological outcome and serial changes in serum ALT in patients with biochemical and virological relapse after IFN treatment for chronic hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Toranomon Hospital, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. mshkoba@d8.dion.ne.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akuta
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Someya
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsubota
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saitoh
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arase
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chayama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kumada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D000410:Alanine Transaminase