New Cutoff Values for ALT and HBV DNA in Chronic HBV Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Ijaz Bushra, Ahmad Waqar, Javed Fouzia T, Gull Sana, Hassan Sajida
Primary Institution: University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Hypothesis
Can revised cutoff values of ALT and HBV DNA levels better differentiate between HBeAg (-) chronic inactive HBV patients and active carriers?
Conclusion
Revised cutoff values of ALT and HBV DNA can better discriminate between HBeAg (-) chronic active and inactive patients.
Supporting Evidence
- 228 patients were classified as chronic inactive and 339 as active.
- AUROC for Serum ALT, AST, and HBV DNA were observed as 0.997, 0.969, and 1.000, respectively.
- ALT cut-off values of 30 IU/L for males and 19 IU/L for females showed high sensitivity and specificity.
- HBV DNA levels were five times elevated in active carriers compared to inactive ones.
Takeaway
Doctors can use new blood test values to tell if a patient with hepatitis B is more active or inactive, which helps in treatment.
Methodology
A cross-sectional cohort study was conducted with 567 HBeAg (-) patients, comparing ALT, AST, and HBV DNA levels using ROC curves.
Limitations
The study lacked liver biopsy data, HBV genotyping, and had a short follow-up period.
Participant Demographics
Patients were native Pakistani individuals referred for biochemical and serological tests, with a mean age of 32.20 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 0.994 to 1.001 for ALT
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website