title: Aminotransferase elevations in rotavirus positive and negative acute gastroenteritis and its relation with disease severity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of elevated alanine (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in children with rotavirus positive and negative gastroenteritis as well as the average time to normalization of liver enzymes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Into the study 298 patients with rotavirus positive and 321 patients with rotavirus negative gastroenteritis were enrolled.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean AST (56.9±2.1 and 40.2±0.9 U/L, respectively, P=0.000) and ALT (33.1±1.7 and 22.4±0.8 U/L, respectively, P=0.000) levels were significantly higher in the rotavirus positive than rotavirus negative patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that rotavirus positivity was significant independent factor for both AST and ALT elevation. Severity of gastroenteritis was another significant independent factor for ALT elevation. The average transaminase normalization time for AST and ALT levels were similar both rotavirus positive and negative groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rotavirus positivity and severity of gastroenteritis were independent risk factors for elevated ALT levels in children with gastroenteritis.
authors: Kayseri Education and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: Ishak
authors: I
authors: Işik
authors: Diyarbakır Children's Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors: Yavuz
authors: Y
authors: Tokgöz
authors: Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Barış
authors: B
authors: Erdur
authors: Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Izmir, Turkey - nur.arslan@deu.edu.tr.
authors: Nur
authors: N
authors: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase