Clinical significance of serum ornithine carbamoyltransferase in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
OBJECTIVE
Ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OCT) is reported to be a liver-specific marker for the evaluation of hapatocellular damage. In this study, we investigated its clinical significance in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).


METHODS
Serum OCT levels were measured by the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) method. One hundred and twenty patients with NASH (18 liver cirrhosis induced by NASH and 9 NASH combined with hepatocellular carcinoma) were measured.


RESULTS
The serum levels of OCT and the ratios of OCT : alanine amino transferase (ALT) and OCT : aspartate amino transferase (AST) were increased in parallel with the progression of NASH. Especially, OCT and both ratios were markedly increased in hepatocellular carcinoma. As for the relationship between fibrosis grade and OCT, the serum OCT levels and the ratio of OCT : ALT levels were increased in parallel with liver fibrosis. In NASH patients with ALT within normal range, about 30% showed elevation of OCT.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum OCT levels and the ratios of OCT : ALT and OCT : AST increase in parallel with the progression of NASH. It was suggested that OCT is a useful marker in the progression of NASH.
Tokushige
Katsutoshi
K
Tokyo Women's Medical University, Department of Medicine and Gastroenterology, Tokyo, Japan.
Hashimoto
Etsuko
E
Noto
Haruka
H
Yatsuji
Satoru
S
Tobari
Maki
M
Torii
Nobuyuki
N
Taniai
Makiko
M
Shiratori
Keiko
K
Murayama
Hiroshi
H