DO SERUM ALAT VALUES REFLECT THE INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY IN THE LIVER OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC VIRAL-HEPATITIS

A retrospective study was carried out in 40 patients with chronic vira l hepatitis, to assess whether serum alanine aminotransferase reflects the inflammatory process in the liver. Twenty liver biopsy specimens were included for each disease. Five histological aspects were scored: periportal inflammation, lobular inflammation, ballooning, Councilman bodies and lymphocyte follicles. Logarithmic values of alanine aminot ransferase were correlated with each aspect using the Spearman correla tion coefficient. For the hepatitis B cohort a statistical significant correlation was found between alanine aminotransferase and periportal inflammation (p=0.0001), lobular inflammation (p=0.0002) and Councilm an bodies/area (p=0.003). In the hepatitis C study population alanine aminotransferase correlates with both periportal inflammation (p=0.007 ) and lymphocyte follicles/Area (p=0.02). In conclusion, these results suggest that alanine aminotransferase can be used as an indicator of inflammatory activity. A prospective study is needed, to further analy ze the use of alanine aminotransferase, as a monitor of disease activi ty in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.