Comparative Study of Serum Levels of Gamma-glutamyl Transferase, Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Transaminase (ALT), AST:ALT, and Bilirubin in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis

Abstract

Introduction: Viral hepatitis and other liver-related diseases are mostly difficult to diagnose solely based on clinical regimes. Liver damage results in alterations in serum enzyme patterns which have been used to develop many enzyme-based assays. Aim and objectives: The major clinical consequences of chronic liver disease can be evaluated by liver function tests like bilirubin, gammaglutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT). Alanine transaminase and AST changes indicate leakage from damaged hepatocytes. The present study was conducted to compare the serum levels of GGT, AST, ALT, AST:ALT ratio, and bilirubin in patients with chronic hepatitis. Materials and methods:The study group comprised 100 clinically diagnosed patients with chronic hepatitis and 100 controls. Results: Case-control comparison showed statistically higher values of GGT (p < 0.01), AST (p < 0.05), ALT (p < 0.05), AST:ALT (p < 0.01), and bilirubin (p < 0.05) in cases and serum levels of GGT, AST:ALT, and bilirubin were sensitive and specific when various parameters were compared with each other in various hepatitis and controls. Conclusion:The present study indicates that the parameters GGT, AST, ALT, AST:ALT ratio, and bilirubin are associated with increased risk of hepatitis. Clinical significance: The serum levels of GGT, AST, ALT, AST:ALT ratio, and bilirubin can be used for the biochemical profiling of different types of patients with hepatitis.