Abstract
Background: We evaluated the annual rate of fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis B and C patients with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Methods: Forty-nine chronic hepatitis B patients and 21 chronic hepatitis C patients, each of whom had undergone two or more liver biopsies at an interval of more than 1 year, were enrolled in this retrospective clinical research protocol. The annual rate of fibrosis progression was calculated by dividing the change in fibrosis stage between the first and second liver biopsies by the interval in years between them. Results: The median interval in chronic hepatitis B and Cwas 3.4 (first and third quartiles, 1.8-4.7) and 3.2 (2.1-6.5) years, respectively. Overall, the mean fibrosis progression rate was 0.21 ± 0.31 (mean ± SD) fibrosis units (FU) per year in 49 patients with chronic hepatitis B, and 0.13 ± 0.18 FU/year in 21 patients with chronic hepatitis C. The ALT level was an independent variable correlating with fibrosis progression. In patients whose median ALT level was 70 IU/l or more, the mean fibrosis progression rate was 0.28 ± 0.32 FU/year in 36 patients with chronic hepatitis B, and 0.22 ± 0.23 FU/year in eight patients with chronic hepatitis C. Conclusion: This paired-biopsy study of untreated chronic hepatitis B or C demonstrated that fibrosis progression occurred largely in patients with continuously elevated ALT levels even over a relatively short period, and that liver fibrosis might progress by one stage within an average of 4-5 years of follow-up in patients with elevated ALT of 70 IU/ l or more.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 484-491 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Gastroenterology |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2008 |
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Keywords
- Alanine aminotransferase
- Chronic hepatitis B
- Chronic hepatitis C
- Fibrosis progression rate
- Liver fibrosis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Gastroenterology
Cite this
Fibrosis progression rates between chronic hepatitis B and C patients with elevated alanine aminotransferase levels. / Fujiwara, Akiko; Sakaguchi, Kohsaku; Fujioka, Shinichi; Iwasaki, Yoshiaki; Senoh, Tomonori; Nishimura, Mamoru; Terao, Masako; Shiratori, Yasushi.
In: Journal of Gastroenterology, Vol. 43, No. 6, 06.2008, p. 484-491.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Fibrosis progression rates between chronic hepatitis B and C patients with elevated alanine aminotransferase levels
AU - Fujiwara, Akiko
AU - Sakaguchi, Kohsaku
AU - Fujioka, Shinichi
AU - Iwasaki, Yoshiaki
AU - Senoh, Tomonori
AU - Nishimura, Mamoru
AU - Terao, Masako
AU - Shiratori, Yasushi
PY - 2008/6
Y1 - 2008/6
N2 - Background: We evaluated the annual rate of fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis B and C patients with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Methods: Forty-nine chronic hepatitis B patients and 21 chronic hepatitis C patients, each of whom had undergone two or more liver biopsies at an interval of more than 1 year, were enrolled in this retrospective clinical research protocol. The annual rate of fibrosis progression was calculated by dividing the change in fibrosis stage between the first and second liver biopsies by the interval in years between them. Results: The median interval in chronic hepatitis B and Cwas 3.4 (first and third quartiles, 1.8-4.7) and 3.2 (2.1-6.5) years, respectively. Overall, the mean fibrosis progression rate was 0.21 ± 0.31 (mean ± SD) fibrosis units (FU) per year in 49 patients with chronic hepatitis B, and 0.13 ± 0.18 FU/year in 21 patients with chronic hepatitis C. The ALT level was an independent variable correlating with fibrosis progression. In patients whose median ALT level was 70 IU/l or more, the mean fibrosis progression rate was 0.28 ± 0.32 FU/year in 36 patients with chronic hepatitis B, and 0.22 ± 0.23 FU/year in eight patients with chronic hepatitis C. Conclusion: This paired-biopsy study of untreated chronic hepatitis B or C demonstrated that fibrosis progression occurred largely in patients with continuously elevated ALT levels even over a relatively short period, and that liver fibrosis might progress by one stage within an average of 4-5 years of follow-up in patients with elevated ALT of 70 IU/ l or more.
AB - Background: We evaluated the annual rate of fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis B and C patients with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Methods: Forty-nine chronic hepatitis B patients and 21 chronic hepatitis C patients, each of whom had undergone two or more liver biopsies at an interval of more than 1 year, were enrolled in this retrospective clinical research protocol. The annual rate of fibrosis progression was calculated by dividing the change in fibrosis stage between the first and second liver biopsies by the interval in years between them. Results: The median interval in chronic hepatitis B and Cwas 3.4 (first and third quartiles, 1.8-4.7) and 3.2 (2.1-6.5) years, respectively. Overall, the mean fibrosis progression rate was 0.21 ± 0.31 (mean ± SD) fibrosis units (FU) per year in 49 patients with chronic hepatitis B, and 0.13 ± 0.18 FU/year in 21 patients with chronic hepatitis C. The ALT level was an independent variable correlating with fibrosis progression. In patients whose median ALT level was 70 IU/l or more, the mean fibrosis progression rate was 0.28 ± 0.32 FU/year in 36 patients with chronic hepatitis B, and 0.22 ± 0.23 FU/year in eight patients with chronic hepatitis C. Conclusion: This paired-biopsy study of untreated chronic hepatitis B or C demonstrated that fibrosis progression occurred largely in patients with continuously elevated ALT levels even over a relatively short period, and that liver fibrosis might progress by one stage within an average of 4-5 years of follow-up in patients with elevated ALT of 70 IU/ l or more.
KW - Alanine aminotransferase
KW - Chronic hepatitis B
KW - Chronic hepatitis C
KW - Fibrosis progression rate
KW - Liver fibrosis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=47349132573&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=47349132573&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00535-008-2183-8
DO - 10.1007/s00535-008-2183-8
M3 - Article
VL - 43
SP - 484
EP - 491
JO - Journal of Gastroenterology
JF - Journal of Gastroenterology
SN - 0944-1174
IS - 6
ER -