title: Serum hepatic enzyme manifestations in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome: retrospective analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the hepatic function in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and possible causes of hepatic disorder in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eighty-two patients with SARS were employed in a retrospective study that investigated hepatic dysfunction. Liver alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were analyzed in these patients. Patients with different hospital treatments were further investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 182 patients, 128(70.3%) had abnormal ALT activity, 57(31.3%) had abnormal AST activity and 87(47.8%) had abnormal LDH activity. The peak of elevated hepatic enzyme activities occurred between the sixth day and the tenth day after the first day of reported fever. Of the 182 patients, 160(87.9%) had been treated with antibiotics, 137(75.2%) with Ribavirin, and 115(63.2%) with methylpredisolone. There was no statistically significant correlation between the duration of Ribavirin treatment and hepatic dysfunction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormal liver functions were common in patients with SARS and could be associated with virus replication in the liver.
authors.affiliation: Chinese-Japanese Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China. cuihj1963@sina.com
authors.forename: Hui-Juan
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Xiao-Lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ying-Xu
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Xiao-Guang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ai-Guo
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhi-Yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chuan-Jin
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Yue-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase