Normal on-treatment ALT during antiviral treatment is associated with a lower risk of hepatic events in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) above two times of the upper limit of normal (ULN) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is one of the key indication for antiviral treatment recommended by international guidelines [1 –3]. Normal on-treatment ALT is often regarded as biochemical response to antiviral treatment. Being one of the most commonly used tests for CHB patients, ALT level correlates with hepatic necroinflammation [4]. The optimal ALT cutoffs are now set at 30 IU/L for men and 19 IU/L for women by the Am erican Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) [3], as high-normal ALT levels according to traditional cutoffs ranging from 40 U/L t0 70 U/L are also associated with cirrhosis [5] and liver-related mortality [6].

Source: Journal of Hepatology - May 11, 2018 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Grace Lai-Hung Wong, Henry Lik-Yuen Chan, Yee-Kit Tse, Terry Cheuk-Fung Yip, Kelvin Long-Yan Lam, Grace Chung-Yan Lui, Vincent Wai-Sun Wong Source Type: research