Use of liver enzymes as a surrogate marker for monitoring treatment of hepatitis C virus disease

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus infects 3% people globally, that causes significant morbidity and mortality. For diagnosis and monitoring of treatment of HCV infection; biochemical markers and HCV RNA are tested. Aim of the Study: We tried to find out whether there is an association of liver enzymes (AST, ALT) and anti HCV antibody with the HCV viral load in patient's serum. Material and Methods:238 consecutive patients with suspected or confirmed Hepatitis C viral disease were included in this study. All consecutive samples of patients for two years were tested for HCV RNA quantification using real time PCR (viral load). Serum aminotransferase (AST, ALT) and anti-HCV antibody levels were also recorded and compared with the viral load. Correlation coefficient was used to study association between different parameters. Results: Significant positive correlation was found between liver enzymes (AST, ALT) and HCV viral load. Conclusion: There is a significant correlation between liver enzymes and RNA viral load. Therefore, viral load may be substituted with test for liver enzymes during monitoring of treatment, at least partially, and this could result in substantial cost savings.

Keywords

• hepatitis c virus
• liver enzymes
• viral load