Improvement of quantitative testing of liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis C after installment of antiviral therapy

Table 1 Transaminase levels and RNA copy numbers in HCV patients before and after 3 mo of antiviral therapy

	HCV patients (n = 50)	Responders (n = 36)	Non-responders (n = 14)	Controls (n = 25)
Age (yr)	39±13	41±12	37±11	39±10
Sex (m/f)	33/17	25/11	10/4	17/8
AST (U/L)	74±37	35±13	59±17	27±11
ALT (U/L)	97±45	30±11	63±21	23±13
RNA level (×1 000)	723±234	Neg/2 log drop	649±305	Negative

Transaminase levels and RNA copy numbers in HCV patients before and after 3 mo of antiviral therapy. Patients were divided in responders (negative or 2 log steps drop in HCV-RNA copy numbers) or non-responders according to RNA levels. HCV-RNA negative persons served as controls. Normal transaminase values: AST<31 U/L (male), <35 U/L (female); ALT <34 U/L (male), <45 U/L (female).