Correlation of serum alanine aminotransferase and hepatitis C viral RNA levelsin Bangladeshi hepatitis patients

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the second largest causative agent for liver infection (0.2-1% general population) in Bangladesh. In hepatitis, bothserum alanine aminotransferase (ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase are elevated without showing correlation of disease severity.However, serum ALT is the commonest and reliable biochemical parameter forliver function test. Hence, the correlation study of ALT and HCV RNA levels is warranted to observeprospective treatment outcomes through biochemical assay.OBJECTIVE:The investigation of serum ALT and HCV RNAlevels inacute and chronic hepatitis patients.METHODS:Whole blood was collected from 112 patients.Serum ALT levels were measured biochemically, serum antibody by EIA and HCV-RNA was confirmedby NAT.RESULTS:Among the enrolled hepatitis patients, there werecomparable demographic characteristics irrespective of their normal or elevated ALT levels. Although 59% patients were HCV RNA undetectable, the higher ALT levelswere significantly correlated with HCV RNA positive patients (p=0.0015). The latter patients group was mostly infected with genotype 3 (67%) than genotype 1 (22%) and other genotypes (11%).Conclusion: The confirmatory test and genotyping are essential to determine the optimal duration of therapy.