Improvement of molar ratio of branched-chain amino acids to tyrosine (BTR)associated with liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with interferon-alpha

The molar ratio of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) to tyrosine (BTR), whi ch has recently been possible to easily determine by an enzymatic method, c an be clinically used as a substitute for that of BCAA. to aromatic amino a cids (AAA). We used this method to investigate the diagnostic implications of serum BTR in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-a lpha. There was a good correlation between BTR and staging (fibrosis) score s both before and after treatment. BTR increased significantly at 24 months after treatment in the responder group (P < 0.01). Moreover, a significant increase in BTR was observed in patients with improved staging (P = 0.015) , but not grading (necroinflammatory), scores. BTR in chronic hepatitis C p atients seems to be reflected by the extent of liver fibrosis, and, in the responder group, it can be improved, together with liver fibrosis, by inter feron-alpha treatment.