| Theme |
Interferon Therapy for Viral Hepatitis : an Update Reference |
| Title |
Treatment Options for Chronic Hepatitis C Patients with Normal Serum ALT Levels |
| Author |
Takeshi Okanoue |
Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
20 to 50 % of HCV carriers have normal ranges of serum ALT (≤ 40 IU / l). Most HCV carriers with persistently normal serum ALT (PNALT) having over 150,000 / μl platelet (PLT) counts show minimal to mild liver histology. This results in a very low risk for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The possibility of viral eradication and the risk of the development of HCC are important factors in determining whether patients should receive antiviral treatment or not. It is proposed that a combination of serum ALT levels (≤ 30 IU / l or 31-40 IU / l) and PLT count (≥ 150,000 / μl or < 150,000 / μl) is valuable in deciding whether these patients are candidates for antiviral treatment or not. |