title: Transaminase in rotavirus gastroenteritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children infected with rotavirus often show increased levels of transaminase, and symptoms are characterized by white stool, similar to biliary atresia. Rotavirus infections are also sporadically accompanied with convulsions, encephalopathy and Reye syndrome. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate transaminase and interleukin (IL)-6 levels in rotavirus infection, in order to better understand their clinical significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Results of liver function tests, mainly the elevation of transaminase and IL-6 in rotavirus gastroenteritis with or without convulsions, were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were high in 23 of 26 samples (88.5%), and in three of 26 samples (11.5%), respectively. No significant differences in liver function tests could be found between the groups with or without convulsions. Three patients whose direct bilirubin levels were above the upper normal limit were all classified into the group without convulsions. Spearman's correlation coefficient was 0.89 between increasing AST levels and IL-6 levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rotavirus infection is occasionally accompanied with hepatitis, but only in a mild form, and does not correlate with neurological complications. High levels of transaminase might reflect high IL-6.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. hisashi@tokyo-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawashima
authors.forename: Chiako
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ioi
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishimata
authors.forename: Yasuyo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kashiwagi
authors.forename: Kouji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takekuma
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D012640:Seizures / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase