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Serum total bile acid level as a sensitive indicator of hepatic histological improvement in chronic hepatitis C patients responding to interferon treatment
Author(s) -
Shima Toshihide,
Tada Hisashi,
Morimoto Michio,
Nakagawa Yoshihiro,
Obata Hirozumi,
Sasaki Toshiyuki,
Park Hyohun,
Nakajo Shinobu,
Nakashima Toshiaki,
Okanoue Takeshi,
Kashima Kei
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1746.2000.02126.x
Subject(s) - medicine , gastroenterology , liver function , bile acid , albumin , liver function tests , histology , cirrhosis
Background and Methods: Serum total bile acid (TBA) levels are used clinically as a sensitive and reliable index of hepatobiliary diseases. In the present study, to assess the clinical usefulness of determining TBA in interferon (IFN)‐treated patients, changes in liver function test values, including TBA and liver histology, were examined in 36 chronic hepatitis C patients for 3 years after a sustained response to IFN treatment.Results: Alanine aminotransferase and gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase values significantly decreased during the period of IFN treatment compared to the same measures before IFN treatment. Albumin, cholinesterase, total cholesterol and platelet count values temporarily decreased during IFN treatment, then increased significantly and reached a plateau 6–12 months after the end of IFN treatment. The zinc sulphate turbidity test and TBA values began to decrease during IFN treatment and continued to decrease during the 3‐year follow‐up period. The histological activity index of the liver (Knodell’s score) significantly decreased, whereas the staging score was unchanged 1 year after the end of IFN treatment. In patients who had a TBA value > 10 μmol/L before IFN treatment, a significant correlation was observed between the decrease of TBA and liver histology grading score.Conclusions: A decrease in serum TBA level reflected histological improvement in the liver more precisely than did changes in the other liver function test values following IFN therapy. © 2000 Blackwell Science Asia Pty Ltd