Correlation between the change in liver enzymology and the severity of acute graft-versus-host disease / 中华血液学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlation between the change of liver enzymes and the severity of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The liver enzyme and severity of aGVHD in 82 patients were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 82 aGVHD patients, 7 developed grade I (18.3%), 47 grade II (57.3%), 13 grade III (15.9%) and 7 grade IV (8.5%) aGVHD. The elevation of ALT, AST and ALP was found in 49 (59.8%), 36(43.9%) and 8(9.8%)patients respectively. Among these patients, 34 (69.4%) were ALT > 40 U/L, 18 (50%) AST > 40 U/L and 4 (50%) ALP > 132 U/L before the onset of aGVHD. The elevation of ALT and AST was more common and the peak value was significantly higher in patients with grade III-IV aGVHD than with grade I-II aGVHD, but those of ALP showed no difference between the two groups. Compared with the patients without ALT elevation, the proportion of severe aGVHD was higher in patients with ALT elevation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The alteration of liver enzymology is common in aGVHD and its level is correlated with the severity of aGVHD. Liver enzymes, especially the ALT, may be used as a predictor of aGVHD.</p>