Correlations of serum hepatitis C virus RNA and alanine transaminase with liver histopathological changes in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between serum hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA titer, alanine transaminase (ALT) level, and the degree of liver damage in patients with HCV. Methods: Serum HCV-RNA and ALT were measured with biochemical instruments. Liver biopsies were performed on 30 of 132 patients. Results: No significant correlations of serum HCV-RNA titer were noted with ALT level (r=0.40, P=0.695), the grades of liver necroinflammatory activity (r=0.50, P=0.667), and the stages of liver fibrosis (r=0.20, P=0.80). Serum ALT did not significantly correlate with the stages of liver fibrosis (r=0.40, P=0.60) but did correlate with the grades of liver necroinflammatory activity statistically (r=1.00, P<0.01). Conclusions: Serum HCV-RNA titer had no correlation with the ALT level, and it could not reflect the degree of liver histological damage. The ALT level had no correlation with the stages of liver fibrosis, but it did reflect the grades of liver necroinflammatory activity to some extent.