Persistent transaminase elevations in chronic hepatitis C patients with virological response during peginterferon and ribavirin therapy

Wen Pang Su, Cheng Yuan Peng*, Hsueh Chou Lai, Kuan Fu Liao, Wen Hsin Huang, Po Heng Chuang, Chih Bin Chen, Long Bin Jeng

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of persistently abnormal transaminase levels despite clearance of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA during antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C. Methodology: One hundred and fifty-one patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing peginterferon alpha and ribavirin therapy and post-treatment follow-up for 24 weeks were included. The blood cell counts, liver biochemistry and serum HCV RNA levels were determined before, during and at 24 weeks after treatment. Results: Overall, 104 patients (68.9%) achieved sustained virological response. Fifty-four of them (52%) had persistently abnormal transaminase levels during treatment despite clearance of serum HCV RNA. Among them, 27 patients (26%) had persistently abnormal serum AST and ALT levels and another 17 patients (16.3%) displayed isolated elevated AST levels. These 44 patients had normalized transaminase levels by two to three months after the end of treatment. The delayed biochemical response correlated with a higher baseline hepatic fibrosis stage (p=0.017) and liver cirrhosis (p=0.001). Conclusions: Approximately 42% of the patients eventually achieving sustained virological response following peginterferon alpha and ribavirin therapy showed delayed biochemical normalization. Delayed biochemical response was associated with the baseline hepatic fibrosis stage and liver cirrhosis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)798-801
Number of pages4
JournalHepato-Gastroenterology
Volume56
Issue number91-92
StatePublished - 05 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Biochemical response
  • Chronic hepatitis C
  • Peginterferon alpha
  • Ribavirin
  • Transaminase

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