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Abstract
Introduction: Hepatitis C virus is an RNA virus
that is affecting almost 170 million people
worldwide. Hepatitis C is also associated with
increased incidence of chronic liver diseases, liver
cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore
serum levels of ALT are considered to be the more
specific indicator of hepatocellular damage than
serum levels of AST. Serum ALT levels vary
according to age and gender.
Materials And Methods:This is a descriptive
cross sectional study that was conducted from
September 2016 to April 2017 at Centre of Liver
Diseases of Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi after
approval from Institutional Research Forum of
Rawalpindi Medical University. Consecutive nonprobability sampling technique was used.
The findings of serum ALT levels were classified
into 5 groups: <40u/l, 41-60u/l, 61-80u/l,81-100u/l and
>100u/l. Normal value of serum ALT levels was
<40u/l.
Patients were divided into 5 age groups: 10-25 years,
25-40 years, 40-55 years, 55-70 years and >70 years.
The data was analyzed using SPSS v22. Frequency
and Percentages were calculated for gender, age and
serum ALT levels.
Results:405 (198 male and 207 female) patients were
included in this research. Mean ALT levels in male
patients were 89.5u/l while in female patients were
70.4u/l. The difference between their mean values
was significant (P=0.016). Serum ALT levels of 24.2%
(98) patients were within normal range (<40u/l)
while they were deranged (>40u/l) in 75.8% (307)
patients. Serum ALT levels were higher in female
patients in all age groups
Conclusion: It was concluded that serum ALT
levels vary significantly with age and gender.
Elevation of serum ALT is seen more frequently in
male than in female patients although mean ALT
levels are higher in female patients in all age groups
than in male patients.