Histological features and HLA class II alleles in hepatitis C virus chronically infected patients with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels. .

Autor: Renou, C., Halfon, P., Pol, S., Cacoub, P., Jouve, E., Bronowicki, J.P., Arpurt, J.P., Rifflet, H., Dantin, S., Alric, L., Cartier, V., Reville, M., Caillat-Zucman, S.
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Zdroj: Gut; Oct2002, Vol. 51 Issue 4, p585, 6p, 6 Charts, 2 Graphs
Abstrakt: Objective: A significant proportion of individuals with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Although data are controversial, such patients usually have weaker histological damage and a lower progression rate of fibrosis. The aims of this study were: (1) to compare demographic, virological, and histological parameters of HCV patients with normal ALT values with those of HCV patients with elevated ALT levels; and (2) to determine whether HLA class II alleles contribute to the persistence of normal ALT levels in HCV patients. Patients and methods: Eighty three patients with chronic HCV infection and persistently normal ALT values (group 1) and 233 patients with chronic HCV infection and elevated ALT levels (group 2) were studied. Histological features were expressed using Knodell and Metavir scores. HLA DRB1[sup *] and DQB1[sup *] genotyping was performed using hybridisation with sequence specific oligonucleotides after genomic amplification. The Χ² and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare discrete variables and phenotype frequencies between the two groups, and Wilcoxon's test was used for continuous variables. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine which variables predicted normal ALT values. Results: ALT levels were correlated with the severity of liver damage. In group 1, 93% of patients had an FO or F1 Metavir index of fibrosis compared with 47% of patients in group 2 (p<0.001). A longer duration of infection (p<0.001) and increased DRB1[sup *]11 phenotype frequency (pc=0.03) were observed among patients with normal ALT. The two groups did not differ with regard to the mode of contamination or viral genotype. After logistic regression, young age (p=0.0008), female sex (p=0.01), long duration of infection (p=0.0001), and HLA DRB1[sup *]11 (p=0.050) were more strongly associated with persistence of normal ALT. Conclusions: Our study confirms that patients... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze: Complementary Index