title: Liver test abnormalities in multiple sclerosis: findings from placebo-treated patients.
abstract: The risk of an abnormal liver test in 813 patients with multiple sclerosis or clinically isolated syndrome enrolled in placebo arms of clinical trials was greater than expected for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (relative risk [RR] 3.7; 95% CI: 2.3 to 6.0) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (RR 2.2; 95% CI: 1.3 to 3.6), although not alkaline phosphatase (AP) or total bilirubin, at first presentation. Abnormal test results were associated with higher body mass index (ALT only), male gender (ALT only), and a relapsing-remitting (vs secondary-progressive) course (ALT and AST only).
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. tremlett@interchange.ubc.ca
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tremlett
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seemüller
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: J D en M
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Oger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petkau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity