Sequential changes of serum aminotransferase levels in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a newly emerging infectious disease. To describe the hepatic injury caused by this disease, we report the sequential changes of serum transaminase in probable SARS patients during a hospital outbreak in southern Taiwan. From April to June, 2003, 52 probable SARS patients were hospitalized. Serial serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were retrospectively analyzed and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was also evaluated to correlate with the progression of this disease. Fifty-three percent of the patients had abnormal liver function during hospitalization. More than 70% of abnormal transaminase levels were mildly elevated. Most elevated levels were noted during the second week after onset of fever. Neither transaminase elevation nor HBsAg was related to the prognosis of SARS, and only advanced age was an independent predictor of poor outcome. Our study suggested that coronavirus causing SARS might induce liver damage.
Division of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Keng-Liang
KL
Wu
Sheng-Nan
SN
Lu
Chi-Sin
CS
Changchien
King-Wah
KW
Chiu
Chung-Huang
CH
Kuo
Seng-Kee
SK
Chuah
Jien-Wei
JW
Liu
Meng-Chih
MC
Lin
Hock-Liew
HL
Eng
Shun-Sheng
SS
Chen
Chuan-Mo
CM
Lee
Chao-Long
CL
Chen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase