title: Virological rather than host factors are associated with transaminase levels among HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.
abstract: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a routine parameter in the assessment and monitoring of chronic hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection. Hepatitis C virus-infected African Americans (AAs) have been reported to have lower ALT levels. In this retrospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study, host and virological factors possibly associated with ALT levels were analyzed by multivariate regression analyses among HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Of the 289 patients included, 142 were African Americans and 144 Caucasians. In multivariate analysis, only HCV genotype 3 (B 0.2 [95% CI 13.39-52.33]; P = .001) and HCV RNA >500 000 IU/mL (B 3.1 [95% CI 7.67-34.75]; P = .002) were independent predictors of higher ALT levels. Per the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) definition, 18.2% had ALT levels within normal limits. Male sex and HCV RNA <500 000 IU/mL predicted ALT within normal limits. Hepatitis C viral factors rather than race were associated with ALT levels in this HIV/HCV-coinfected population. ALT were within normal limits in 18% of patients, who more often were male and had lower Hepatitis C viral load.
authors.affiliation: Division on Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
authors.forename: Nathan J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Shores
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maida
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perez-Saleme
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Núñez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009657:North Carolina; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase