Guidelines for the antiviral therapy of hepatitis C virus carriers with normal serum aminotransferase based on platelet counts.

@article{citeulike:2364662, abstract = {Aim: We aimed to identify the candidates for antiviral therapy, among patients who are hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers with normal serum aminotransferase (ALT), focused on the inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Four hundred and sixty-four HCV carriers with normal serum ALT and 129 HCV carriers with persistently normal ALT (PNALT) and platelet (PLT) counts >/=150 000/muL who received liver biopsies were enrolled. HCV carriers with normal serum ALT were divided into four groups according to their ALT levels (</=30 U/L or 31-40 U/L) and PLT counts (>/=150 000/muL or <150 000/muL). Results: In 129 HCV carriers with PNALT, the rate of progression of fibrosis stage was 0.05/year and no HCC was detected during the follow up for 10 years. Approximately 20\% of patients with ALT </=40 U/L and PLT counts >/=150 000/muLwere at stage F2-3; however, approximately 50\% of patients with ALT </= 40 U/L and PLT counts <150 000/muL were at stage F2-4. An algorithm for the management of HCV carriers with normal serum ALT was advocated based on ALT and PLT counts. Conclusion: The combination of ALT and PLT counts is useful for evaluating the fibrosis stage in HCV carriers with normal serum ALT. Most patients with PLT counts <150 000/muL are candidates for antiviral therapy, especially those with ALT levels >/=31 U/L when we focus on the inhibition of the development of HCC.}, address = {Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.}, author = {Okanoue, T. and Itoh, Y. and Minami, M. and Hashimoto, H. and Yasui, K. and Yotsuyanagi, H. and Takehara, T. and Kumada, T. and Tanaka, E. and Nishiguchi, S. and Izumi, N. and Sata, M. and Onji, M. and Yamada, G. and Okita, K. and Kumada, H. }, citeulike-article-id = {2364662}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1872-034X.2007.00217.x}, issn = {1386-6346}, journal = {Hepatol Res}, month = {January}, number = {1}, pages = {27--36}, posted-at = {2008-02-12 02:47:41}, priority = {2}, title = {Guidelines for the antiviral therapy of hepatitis C virus carriers with normal serum aminotransferase based on platelet counts.}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1872-034X.2007.00217.x}, volume = {38}, year = {2008} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2364662 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2364662 TI - Guidelines for the antiviral therapy of hepatitis C virus carriers with normal serum aminotransferase based on platelet counts. JF - Hepatol Res VL - 38 IS - 1 SP - 27 EP - 36 AD - Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. SN - 1386-6346 N2 - Aim: We aimed to identify the candidates for antiviral therapy, among patients who are hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers with normal serum aminotransferase (ALT), focused on the inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Four hundred and sixty-four HCV carriers with normal serum ALT and 129 HCV carriers with persistently normal ALT (PNALT) and platelet (PLT) counts >/=150 000/muL who received liver biopsies were enrolled. HCV carriers with normal serum ALT were divided into four groups according to their ALT levels (</=30 U/L or 31-40 U/L) and PLT counts (>/=150 000/muL or <150 000/muL). Results: In 129 HCV carriers with PNALT, the rate of progression of fibrosis stage was 0.05/year and no HCC was detected during the follow up for 10 years. Approximately 20% of patients with ALT </=40 U/L and PLT counts >/=150 000/muLwere at stage F2-3; however, approximately 50% of patients with ALT </= 40 U/L and PLT counts <150 000/muL were at stage F2-4. An algorithm for the management of HCV carriers with normal serum ALT was advocated based on ALT and PLT counts. Conclusion: The combination of ALT and PLT counts is useful for evaluating the fibrosis stage in HCV carriers with normal serum ALT. Most patients with PLT counts <150 000/muL are candidates for antiviral therapy, especially those with ALT levels >/=31 U/L when we focus on the inhibition of the development of HCC. AU - Okanoue, T AU - Itoh, Y AU - Minami, M AU - Hashimoto, H AU - Yasui, K AU - Yotsuyanagi, H AU - Takehara, T AU - Kumada, T AU - Tanaka, E AU - Nishiguchi, S AU - Izumi, N AU - Sata, M AU - Onji, M AU - Yamada, G AU - Okita, K AU - Kumada, H PY - 2008/01// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1872-034X.2007.00217.x ER -