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Abstract

The ratio of serum aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT ratio) has been proposed as a noninvasive method of assessing liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Our aims were to confirm the usefulness of the AST/ALT ratio in diagnosing cirrhosis noninvasively as well as to verify the existence of a relationship between the ratio and liver functional impairment. In all, 348 patients (177 with chronic hepatitis, 171 with cirrhosis) were retrospectively evaluated and the AST/ALT ratio was related to monoethyl glycine xylidide (MEGX) formation. Moreover, in a subgroup of 54 patients we analyzed the relationships among the AST/ALT ratio and indocyanine green clearance and half-life. The AST/ALT ratio was able to separate patients with mild fibrosis from those with severe fibrosis and cirrhosis. The AST/ALT ratio, MEGX, prothrombin activity, and platelet count were selected by multivariate analysis as variables associated with cirrhosis. The AST/ALT ratio showed significant correlations both with MEGX formation and with indocyanine green clearance and half-life. The alterations of indocyanine green kinetics, which depend upon liver blood flow and uptake, were likely due to progressive fibrosis. These findings might partially explain the increase in the AST/ALT ratio as disease progresses.

Effects of coenzyme Q10on the antioxidant system in SD rats exposed to lipopolysaccharide-induced toxicity

“…As expected, the LPS challenge significantly increased the levels of blood ALT and spleen weight in rats. The leakage of hepatic enzymes including ALT and AST into the blood stream was directly associated with marked liver injury [22]. Our results were in agreement with earlier studies that LPS challenge resulted in a significant increase in blood AST and ALT in pigs and rodents [2324].…”

Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity of saponin-enriched extract ofAsparagus cochinchinensisin ICR mice

“…Some toxicity markers including the degree of steatosis, lobular inflammation, hepatocellular ballooning, and fibrosis can be detected during evaluation of liver toxicity caused by various compounds [25]. Among these, alterations in the levels of ALT, AST, ALP and LDH have been widely applied to measure liver toxicity [2627282930]. Following treatment with saponin mixture isolated from Schefflera leucantha Viguier, the level of AST, ALT and ALP increased [21].…”

Performance and Utility of Transient Elastography and Non-Invasive Markers of Liver Fiibrosis in Patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis: A Single Centre Experience

“…All patients were assessed for the following surrogate markers of liver fiibrosis: APRI (5), FIB-4 (6), FibroQuotient (FibroQ) (7), and AST/ALT ratio (8, 9). NAFLD fiibrosis score could be calculated in 41 patients (10).…”