Determination of the cut-off value of serum alanine aminotransferase in patients undergoing hemodialysis, to identify biochemical activity in patients with hepatitis C viremia

Elevated liver enzymes are infrequent in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection undergoing chronic hemodialysis (HD), suggesting that the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a poor predictor of hepatocellular damage in this population. To establish a more appropriate cut-off value of ALT to i...

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Published in:	Journal of clinical virology 2006-03, Vol.35 (3), p.298-302
Main Authors:	Lopes, E.P.A, Gouveia, E.C., Albuquerque, A.C.C., Sette, L.H.B.C., Mello, L.A., Moreira, R.C., Coelho, M.R.C.D.
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Adolescent Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Alanine aminotransferase Alanine Transaminase - blood Biological and medical sciences Female Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology Genotype Hemodialysis Hepacivirus - classification Hepacivirus - genetics Hepacivirus - immunology Hepacivirus - isolation & purification Hepatitis C Hepatitis C - enzymology Hepatitis C - physiopathology Hepatitis C Antibodies - blood Hepatitis C virus Human viral diseases Humans Infectious diseases Male Medical sciences Microbiology Middle Aged Miscellaneous Nucleic Acid Hybridization Polymerase Chain Reaction Reference Values Renal Dialysis RNA, Viral - blood RNA, Viral - genetics Viral diseases Viral hepatitis Viremia Virology
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Summary:	Elevated liver enzymes are infrequent in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection undergoing chronic hemodialysis (HD), suggesting that the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a poor predictor of hepatocellular damage in this population. To establish a more appropriate cut-off value of ALT to identify biochemical activity due to HCV infection in HD patients. A total of 217 patients, with an average age of 51.2 years, were evaluated between January and October 2002; 130 were males (60%). Serum ALT was measured by a kinetic method in five consecutive monthly blood samples, from which an average was obtained and divided by the upper limit of normal (ULN). HCV antibodies were determined using an enzyme immunoassay, the serum HCV-RNA by nested-PCR and HCV genotype by hybridization of the amplified sequence from the 5′-non-coding region. The cut-off value of ALT was obtained from a ROC curve. Within the 217 patients, 18 (8.3%) were anti-HCV-positive, 17 (7.8%) of whom were also HCV-RNA-positive. Genotype distribution was: 1a = 47%; 1b = 18%; 3a = 35%. Mean ALT/ULN (0.77 ± 0.57) of the 18 anti-HCV-positive cases was higher ( p < 0.001) than the negative group (0.38 ± 0.23). The mean ALT/ULN (0.81 ± 0.57) of the 17 HCV-RNA-positive cases was also higher ( p < 0.0001) than the negative cases (0.37 ± 0.23). The cut-off value of ALT to distinguish the anti-HCV-positive from negative patients was 0.50% or 50% of the ULN (sensitivity = 67%; specificity = 83%). According to the HCV-RNA, the cut-off value of ALT was 0.45% or 45% of the ULN (sensitivity = 71%; specificity = 80%). Reducing the cut-off of ALT by half, enables a better identification of biochemical activity in patients with HCV infection on chronic HD.
ISSN:	1386-6532 1873-5967