[Correlation between the change in liver enzymology and the severity of acute graft-versus-host disease.].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the correlation between the change of liver enzymes and the severity of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD).


METHODS
The liver enzyme and severity of aGVHD in 82 patients were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
Among the 82 aGVHD patients, 7 developed grade I (18.3%), 47 grade II (57.3%), 13 grade III (15.9%) and 7 grade IV (8.5%) aGVHD. The elevation of ALT, AST and ALP was found in 49 (59.8%), 36(43.9%) and 8(9.8%)patients respectively. Among these patients, 34 (69.4%) were ALT > 40 U/L, 18 (50%) AST > 40 U/L and 4 (50%) ALP > 132 U/L before the onset of aGVHD. The elevation of ALT and AST was more common and the peak value was significantly higher in patients with grade III-IV aGVHD than with grade I-II aGVHD, but those of ALP showed no difference between the two groups. Compared with the patients without ALT elevation, the proportion of severe aGVHD was higher in patients with ALT elevation.


CONCLUSIONS
The alteration of liver enzymology is common in aGVHD and its level is correlated with the severity of aGVHD. Liver enzymes, especially the ALT, may be used as a predictor of aGVHD.
Mo
Xiao-Dong
XD
Institute of Hematology and People's Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100044, China.
Xu
Lan-Ping
LP
Liu
Kai-Yan
KY
Liu
Dai-Hong
DH
Chen
Huan
H
Wang
Feng-Rong
FR
Zhang
Xiao-Hui
XH
Han
Wei
W
Chen
Yu-Hong
YH
Huang
Xiao-Jun
XJ
D006086:Graft vs Host Disease; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver; D012189:Retrospective Studies