Re-evaluation of serum enzymes in diagnosis of acute viral hepatitis

ABSTRACT

The present study re-evaluates AST/ALT [D[e]R[i]tis ratio] and ALP/ALT ratios in 65 icteric and 24 anicteric cases of viral hepatitis. The icteric cases were hospitalized and followed up to 5th week of jaundice when most of the patients [80%] recovered clinicobiochemically. AST/ALT ratio showed significance only in early diagnosis of icitric cases of acute viral hepatitis, but the relevant history with other biochemical testes eclipsed its value. Further, 16% of cases had reverse ratio. The ALP/ALT ratio provided a remarkable help in the diagnosis of both anicteric and icteric cases and proved to be preferable, as compared to AST/ALT ratio even in cases of cholestasis