Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) more than alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels predict the progression of liver fibrosis in chronic HCV infection

The development and severity of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic HCV infection can be evaluated best according to the staging of fibrosis in blind liver biopsy. So far there is however no biochemical indicator suggesting advanced fibrosis or progression of fibrosis in chronic HCV infection. In 1997 - 1999 60 adult out-patients (32 women) with chronic HCV infection were examined by blind liver biopsy. The grading of hepatitis was scored according to Knodell and staging of fibrosis according to Desmet. All patients were anti-HCV positive, assessed by the ELISA-3 method and 48/60 had positive HCV RNA in serum. The main risk factor of HCV infection was blood transfusion (67%). Of 27 examined patients 20 (74%) had serotype HCV 1. Staging of fibrosis: histologically confirmed fibrosis was not recorded in 11 patients (18.3%), mild and medium fibrosis was recorded in 25 (42%), severe fibrosis in 14 (23%) and cirrhosis in 10 (17%). With confirmed fibrosis correlated more closely AST serum activity (p < 0.002) than ALT activity (p < 0.03). Steatosis of the liver was found in 25 (42%) patients. The mean age of patients with steatosis was significantly higher than that of patients without steatosis (p < 0.0008). Steatosis was more frequent in patients with fibrosis (p < 0.04), in particularin the age group above 60 years. The development of fibrosis in patients with chronic HCV infection is suggested by permanently elevated activity of both transaminases whereby AST has a higher predictive value than ALT activity. A total of 40% histologically tested patients had the highest staging of fibrosis (3 - 4). Steatosis is in chronic HCV infection a very frequent finding (42%), in particular in patients above 60 years and those with serious fibrosis. The finding of fibrosis should stimulate the initiation of antiviral treatment which can lead to regression of fibrosis and improvement of the histological finding.