Plasma Neopterin in Hepatitis C Virus Antibody -positive and -negative Donors with Elevated Alanine Aminotransferase Activity

Abstract

Plasma neopterin was assayed in units from HBs antigen-negative male donors with elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (AL T, above 35 Karmen units) who were divided into two groups according to whether they were negative (N = 162) or positive (N =-= RO) for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV Ab). Male donors with no abnormalities reflected in screening tests were selected as controls (N98). The average values of plasma neopterin were 5.6 nmolll in the HCV Ab-negative group, 7.9 nmolll in the HCV Ab-positive group and 5.9 nmolll in the control group. Significant differences were only found between the HCVAb-positive group and each of the other two groups. From the results. the elevated ALT levels in the majority of HCVAb-negative donors with elevated AL T were considered to be clue to liver injuries caused by metabolic disturbances such as steatosis due to excess body weight and/or alcohol consumption.

Keywords

• plasma neopterin
• hepatitis c virus
• alanine aminotransferase