title: Serum aminotransferase ratio is independently correlated with hepatosteatosis in patients with HCV: a cross-sectional observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is significant in hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers due to multiple mechanisms, and this worsens the progression of chronic liver diseases, such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and death. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) ratio correlates with the status of hepatosteatosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-based annual examination in northern Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1354 participants (age 20 years or over) were enrolled after excluding participants with HCV seronegative, laboratory or questionnaires loss, moderate alcohol consumption, liver cirrhosis, tumours and postlobectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fatty liver was diagnosed according to echogenic findings. NAFLD included grades 1-3 fatty liver and high-degree NAFLD defined grades 2-3 fatty liver.
  
  
  RESULTS
  580 males and 774 females with a mean age of 47.2 (SD=16.1) years were cross-sectionally studied. The participants with NAFLD have significantly higher levels of ALT/AST ratio, fasting glucose, triglyceride and systolic/diastolic blood pressure than non-NAFLD participants. The association between NAFLD and ALT/AST was significant even when adjusting for the metabolic syndrome (aOR 1.90; 95% CI 1.37 to 2.65; p<0.001). In patients with a high degree of NAFLD, the ALT/AST ratio was still a significant predictor for hepatosteatosis (aOR 2.44; 95% CI 1.58 to 3.77; p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ALT/AST ratio could be a strong risk of hepatosteatosis in patients with chronic HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Yunlin, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Shyan
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Huang-Shen
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chang-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Yen
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopedic, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Yunlin, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Po-Han
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Yunlin, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jing-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Yunlin, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Nan
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Yunlin, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jui-Chu
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Yunlin, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tung-Jung
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase