Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P17174 (aspartate aminotransferase)
 14,872 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In order to evaluate the persistence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a chronic hemodialysis population, we studied 151 HBsAg-negative patients. Anti-HCV titers were evaluated every 3 months over 1 year, and the serum alanine aminotransferase/serum aspartate aminotransferase ratio monthly from the start of hemodialysis. The anti-HCV titers (ELISA C100-3) remained stable in 127 patients and fluctuated in 24, without an evident correlation with hepatic function. Using our criteria, we found 85 patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis, 57 of them with biochemical criteria of chronic hepatic disease. There was a strong correlation between antibodies to HCV and non-A, non-B hepatitis (chi 2; p < 0.05) which was more marked in those patients with biochemical criteria of chronic hepatic disease (chi 2; p < 0.001). We concluded that the anti-HCV titer is reliable as a long-term marker of hepatitis C virus infection.
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PMID:Persistence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in a chronic hemodialysis population. 752 4

We have evaluated the histological progression of liver disease in 29 untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C. All patients were positive to antibodies to hepatitis C virus by ELISA2 and RIBA2. Two liver biopsies were carried out for each patient, with an interval ranging between 12 and 126 months (mean 50.2 +/- 30.7). In all cases the usual histological classification was applied and the histological activity index scoring system according to Knodell et al. was determined. Fifteen cases worsened (51.7%), 12 cases showed no histological changes (41.4%) and two patients improved (6.9%). Cirrhosis was found in five patients (18.5%) in the second liver biopsy. Epidemiological, clinical, biochemical and histological progression and the group with impairment in liver histology. Factors related to histological worsening were: more advanced age (p = 0.002), high levels of aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.04), high global histological activity index (p = 0.03) and piecemeal necrosis and bridging necrosis scores (p = 0.02) at first biopsy. The histological activity index can be applied to assess the natural history of chronic viral hepatitis, and is a good tool to evaluate the prognosis. Thus chronic hepatitis C virus infection is a histologically progressive disease in at least half the cases.
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PMID:Histological evolution of chronic hepatitis C. Factors related to progression. 752 89

To identify the route of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission, we investigated the sexual transmission of HCV by examining HCV markers among spouses of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) due to HCV. Of 83 spouses, 14 (16.9%) had elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase, 20 (24.1%) had detectable anti-HCV antibodies, and 17 (20.5%) had measurable HCV-RNA in serum. However, the seropositivity rate of anti-HCV antibodies (24.1%) of patients' spouses was not significantly higher than that (15.4-27.5%) of an unselected population in the same district. Ten patient-spouse pairs underwent nucleotide sequence analysis of the HCV core and envelope genes. Overall the sequence homology of 10 couples (91.1%) was not significantly higher than that of 10 randomly chosen unrelated pairs (88.2%). As reported earlier, in an age and sex matched case-control study of HCV transmission, a history of surgery is a prominent HCV risk factor. These results suggest that sexual transmission of HCV is rare.
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PMID:Analysis of nucleotide sequences of hepatitis C virus isolates from husband-wife pairs. 753 61

Previous studies from Spain, Italy, and France have demonstrated a high prevalence (71% to 91%) of antibodies against hepatitis C virus in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). To determine the role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in PCT in Germany, we have assessed the prevalence of antibodies against HCV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 106 patients (mean age, 60 +/- 14 years) with the disease. Eight of 106 patients (8%) were positive for HCV antibodies and HCV RNA using second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), recombinant immunoblot assay, and polymerase chain reaction. Antibodies against HBV core antigen were found in 14 patients (13%). Of the patients with antibodies against HCV alanine transaminase (ALT) (aspartate transaminase [AST]) levels above normal occurred in 71% (86%). Because elevated ALT (AST) levels were also found in 51% (64%) of 88 patients without markers of HCV or HBV, we suggest that liver damage in PCT may exist in absence of these viruses. This is supported by the finding that in patients without HCV or HBV markers, higher serum ALT and AST activities were found in patients with overt disease or relapse (ALT, 59 +/- 44 U/L; AST, 37 +/- 21 U/L), whereas patients in remission displayed significantly lower serum enzyme activities (ALT, 16 +/- 8 U/L; AST, 16 +/- 7 U/L), (P < .001). These results indicate that HCV infection does not play a major role in the pathogenesis of PCT in Germany.
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PMID:Low prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in porphyria cutanea tarda in Germany. 753 93

The liver has an important role in thyroid hormone metabolism and the level of thyroid hormones is also important to normal hepatic function and bilirubin metabolism. Besides the associations between thyroid and liver diseases of an autoimmune nature, such as that between primary biliary cirrhosis and hypothyroidism, thyroid diseases are frequently associated with liver injuries or biochemical test abnormalities. For example, thyroid diseases may be associated with elevation of alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase, which is mainly of bone origin, in hyperthyroidism and aspartate aminotransferase in hypothyroidism. Liver diseases are also frequently associated with thyroid test abnormalities or dysfunctions, particularly elevation of thyroxine-binding globulin and thyroxine. Hepatitis C virus infection has been connected with thyroid abnormalities. In addition, antithyroid drug therapy may result in hepatitis, cholestasis or transient subclinical hepatotoxicity, whereas interferon (IFN) therapy in liver diseases may also induce thyroid dysfunctions. These thyroid-liver associations may cause diagnostic confusions. Neglect of these facts may result in over of under diagnosis of associated liver or thyroid diseases and thereby cause errors in patient care. It is suggested to measure free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) which are usually normal in euthyroid patients with liver disease, to rule out or rule in coexistent thyroid dysfunctions, and consider the possibility of thyroid dysfunctions in any patients with unexplained liver biochemical test abnormalities. It is also advisable to monitor patients with autoimmune liver disease or those receiving IFN therapy for the development of thyroid dysfunctions, and patients receiving antithyroid therapy for the development of hepatic injuries.
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PMID:Clinical associations between thyroid and liver diseases. 754 16

Forty two cases of confirmed hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with available liver histology were studied. Most patients, 23 of 42 (55%) had abnormal liver function tests but 19 of 42 (45%) had persistently normal liver transaminases (mean aspartate transaminase (AST) 24.1 IU/l, mean follow up 10 months). Histological examinations in the group with normal AST activities were normal in two of 19 (11%), showed non-specific reactive hepatitis in eight of 19 (42%), chronic persistent hepatitis in six of 19 (31%), and chronic active hepatitis in three of 19 (16%). Twenty three of 42 (55%) had either persistently or temporary raised liver transaminases (mean AST 96.2 IU/l, mean follow up 16 months). Histological examinations in this second group with abnormal liver biochemistry showed reactive hepatitis in five of 23 (22%), chronic persistent hepatitis in six of 23 (26%), chronic active hepatitis in 10 of 23 (43%), and cirrhosis in two (9%). Average alcohol intake was significantly higher in the group within abnormal liver function (17.8 v 6.4 units, p = 0.01). Although serious pathology was more frequent in the abnormal transaminase group, significant liver pathology (chronic persistent hepatitis or chronic active hepatitis) was found in nine of 19 (47%) of cases with repeatedly normal transaminases. Liver biopsy is advised in all cases of chronic hepatitis C infection to accurately assess both the degree of fibrosis and the current activity of the disease.
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PMID:Liver histology in hepatitis C infection: a comparison between patients with persistently normal or abnormal transaminases. 755 81

We performed two courses of interferon-beta (IFN-beta) to a child with chronic hepatitis C. A complete response was not obtained by the first interferon treatment, however, the results of the second treatment differed from those of the first. Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA remained negative and both aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels remained normal after completion of the second course. From these results we estimated that HCV-RNA levels before IFN therapy could be significantly associated with the efficacy of this treatment. The serum level of HCV-RNA was 10(6) copies/50 microL before the first treatment, but was 10(3) copies/50 microL before the second course. We conclude that IFN therapy to children with hepatitis C should always be directed at providing a cure. Even if the clinical effects of the first course are minimal decreasing quantities of HCV-RNA still offer hope for cure by subsequent readministration.
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PMID:Relation between serum hepatitis C virus-RNA levels and efficacy of interferon-beta therapy. 757 60

Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) is a suspected human carcinogen. Its metabolite, chloroethylene epoxide, is able to alkylate the DNA molecule and to produce single strand breakage (SSB). A total of 244 workers from 4 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) manufacturing factories were recruited to assess the SSB of their peripheral lymphocyte DNA. The method of alkaline unwinding and hydroxyapatite chromatography was used to detect and calculate frequencies of SSB. In addition, hepatitis B and C markers and the liver function of the workers were also examined. The worker's cumulative exposures to VCM were retrospectively constructed from the current monitoring data and each worker's job history. Multiple linear regression models were constructed to predict the worker's level of SSB and liver functions based on various exposure indices and variables, such as age, sex, smoking, drinking, and hepatitis markers. The results showed that current smoking and drinking status, and the presence of VCM exposures on the previous day were 3 major determinants of the level of SSB. Among the liver function tests, only gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) was associated with current VCM exposures. In contrast, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were mainly affected by the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). We conclude that GGT should be considered to be included in the regular health screening of VCM workers, and that the SSB method may not be suitable for long-term monitoring of cumulative exposure because of the quick DNA repair mechanism in humans.
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PMID:Changes in lymphocyte single strand breakage and liver function of workers exposed to vinyl chloride monomer. 761 65

Thirty-four of 99 multiply transfused Chinese (49 females, 50 males) with thalassaemia major were positive for antibody to hepatitis C virus. There was no sex predominance in seropositivity with 18 females and 16 males positive. The mean (+/- SD) age and units of blood transfused were significantly higher in the seropositive patients (167 +/- 48 months, 206 +/- 82 units respectively) than the seronegative patients (113 +/- 56 months, 124 +/- 80 units respectively). The seropositive patients had higher mean (+/- SD) serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and ferritin concentrations (91 +/- 82 IU/L, 67 +/- 38 IU/L, 4797 +/- 2522 ng/ml respectively) than the seronegative patients (38 +/- 29 IU/L, 48 +/- 28 IU/L, 3620 +/- 2140 ng/ml respectively). Serum ferritin had an independent and significant effect on serum alanine aminotransferase in addition to that of seropositivity to hepatitis C virus.
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PMID:Hepatitis C virus antibody in multiply transfused Chinese with thalassaemia major. 769 Jun 34

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common in hemodialysis patients, as determined by antibody assays and qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of serum HCV RNA. To further characterize HCV infection in this population, we measured the viral load in infected hemodialysis patients by a quantitative, competitive PCR assay (QC-PCR) for HCV RNA. Hepatitis C virus RNA levels were correlated with serologic, biochemical, and demographic features of a cohort of hemodialysis patients. Sera from 208 hemodialysis patients were screened for HCV RNA (5' conserved region) by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and HCV-specific antibody. Forty-four patients were antibody positive (21%); among these patients, 34 (77%) were HCV RNA positive. No viremic, seronegative patients were identified. Hepatitis C virus RNA levels quantitated by QC-PCR ranged from 3 x 10(5) to 10(8) molecules of HCV RNA/mL. Male patients had significantly higher mean and median HCV RNA levels (10(7) molecules/mL) compared with female patients (3.6 x 10(6) molecules/mL and 3 x 10(6) molecules/mL, respectfully; P = 0.02). No other demographic or clinical feature of this cohort correlated with HCV RNA levels. Intravenous drug abuse was the most frequently identified risk factor (29% of seropositive patients) for infection with HCV in this population. No association between HCV RNA levels and hepatic enzyme levels (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase) was apparent. Hepatitis C virus infection is highly prevalent in our hemodialysis population, and hemodialysis patients, particularly males, have high levels of HCV in serum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Quantitation of hepatitis C viral RNA in sera of hemodialysis patients: gender-related differences in viral load. 797 21


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