Does normal ALT mean healthy liver in HCV infection?

Aims: HCV carriers with persistently normal ALT (PNALT) have usually mild and stable liver disease with favourable prognosis than patients with elevated ALT. However, several studies reported worsening of liver injury in 20 – 30% of subjects with PNALT and development of cirrhosis and even HCC. Aim of our study was to compare liver fibrosis stage and fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with ALT levels within normal limits and CHC patients with elevated ALT. Patients: Eighty-eight CHC patients were followed up in a five year period. Fifty-three patients (60%) had ALT levels above our labora…