Serum hepatic enzyme manifestations in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome: retrospective analysis.
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.
Cui
Hui-Juan
HJ
Chinese-Japanese Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China. cuihj1963@sina.com
Tong
Xiao-Lin
XL
Li
Ping
P
Hao
Ying-Xu
YX
Chen
Xiao-Guang
XG
Li
Ai-Guo
AG
Zhang
Zhi-Yuan
ZY
Duan
Jun
J
Zhen
Min
M
Zhang
Bin
B
Hua
Chuan-Jin
CJ
Gong
Yue-Wen
YW
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*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase