Assessment of Serum Alpha-Glutathione S-Transferase and Alanine Aminotransferase Levels in Patients with Interferon Treated Hepatitis C
FAISAL KHAN1, MARIA SARFRAZ2, BUSHRA GOHAR SHAH3, MUHAMMAD KAMRAN AMIR4, FAIZA MEHBOOB5, MUHAMMAD NAZIR AWAN6, ASMA SAEED7
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ABSTRACT
Background: Hepatitis C virus infection is worldwide
health issue.
Aims
& Objectives: To compare and
correlate the mean levels of biochemical parameters i.e. total bilirubin, ALT,
AST, α-GST and PCR quantitative at day zero and one month after the start of
the treatment with Interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin.
Materials
& methods: The study consists of
40 patients with normal liver and clinical evidence of compensatory liver
disease (early stage cirrhosis) on ultrasound examination. Before the start of
IFN alpha-2b and ribavirin treatment, at zero day, all of the 40 patients were
HCV- RNA positive. One month after the start of IFN alpha-2b and ribavirin
treatment (Ribavirin 500mg B.D and IFN alpha-2b 4.5 mega units,(3times per week
for 6 months) these 40 patients were again tested. On the basis of the presence
of HCV-RNA virus, they were classified into two groups (A&B).
Results:
After treatment, viral
load was significantly reduced in group A (n=31), and significantly reduced in
patients of group B (n=9). ALT and AST levels were reduced significantly in
patients of Group A (n=31) and insignificantly reduced in patients of group B
after treatment. After treatment, Alpha-GST level was significantly elevated
among patients of Group A (n=31) who remained HCV-RNA positive and
significantly reduced in HCV-RNA negative patients in group B (n=9)
Conclusion: In hepatic insults, α-GST levels show an
early rise in serum. So, α-GST level is a sensitive method for evaluation of
hepatic insults without ALT elevation.
Key
words: alpha-glutathione
s-transferase (α-GST); alanine aminotransferase(ALT); interferon; hepatitis c
Background: Hepatitis C virus infection is worldwide
health issue.
Aims
& Objectives: To compare and
correlate the mean levels of biochemical parameters i.e. total bilirubin, ALT,
AST, α-GST and PCR quantitative at day zero and one month after the start of
the treatment with Interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin.
Materials
& methods: The study consists of
40 patients with normal liver and clinical evidence of compensatory liver
disease (early stage cirrhosis) on ultrasound examination. Before the start of
IFN alpha-2b and ribavirin treatment, at zero day, all of the 40 patients were
HCV- RNA positive. One month after the start of IFN alpha-2b and ribavirin
treatment (Ribavirin 500mg B.D and IFN alpha-2b 4.5 mega units,(3times per week
for 6 months) these 40 patients were again tested. On the basis of the presence
of HCV-RNA virus, they were classified into two groups (A&B).
Results:
After treatment, viral
load was significantly reduced in group A (n=31), and significantly reduced in
patients of group B (n=9). ALT and AST levels were reduced significantly in
patients of Group A (n=31) and insignificantly reduced in patients of group B
after treatment. After treatment, Alpha-GST level was significantly elevated
among patients of Group A (n=31) who remained HCV-RNA positive and
significantly reduced in HCV-RNA negative patients in group B (n=9)
Conclusion: In hepatic insults, α-GST levels show an
early rise in serum. So, α-GST level is a sensitive method for evaluation of
hepatic insults without ALT elevation.
Key
words: alpha-glutathione
s-transferase (α-GST); alanine aminotransferase(ALT); interferon; hepatitis c