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Slow Progression Rate of Fibrosis in Hepatitis C Virus Patients With Persistently Normal Alanine Transaminase Activity

table  2.   Histological and Virological Features
Normal ALT Group I (n = 102) Normal ALT HCV-RNA-Negative (n = 33)    
Liver biopsy (n) 67** 12    
Activity score (mean ± SD) 0.60 ± 0.60* 0.25 ± 0.45dagger    
Median 1 (95% CI: 0-1)* 0 (95% CI: 0-1)dagger    
Fibrosis score (mean ± SD) 0.95 ± 0.96 1.10 ± 1.10    
Median 1 (95% CI: 0-1) 1 (95% CI: 0-1)    
Fibrosis progression (mean ± SD) 0.07 ± 0.07 0.09 ± 0.07    
Median 0.05 (05% CI: 0.04-0.07) 0.08 (95% CI: 0-0.15)    
Normal liver (A0-F0) 11/67 (16%) 2/12 (17%)    
Positive PCR 66/99 (66%) 33/33 (0%)     
HCV viremiadagger dagger mean ± SD (range) 54.9 ± 132.7 (0-881) 0    
Median 4.5 (95% CI: 3.5-21.4) 0    
    Normal ALT HCV-RNA-Positive (n = 66) Elevated ALT Group II (n = 102)
Liver biopsy (n)     53 101
Activity score (mean ± SD)     0.70 ± 0.60 1.38 ± 0.70*
Median     1 (95% CI: 1-1) 1 (95% CI: 1-2)
Fibrosis score (mean ± SD)     0.90 ± 0.80 1.80 ± 1.10Dagger
Median     1 (95% CI: 1-1) 2 (CI: 1-2)Dagger
Fibrosis progression (mean ± SD)     0.07 ± 0.07 0.15 ± 0.11§
Median     0.05 (95% CI: 0.03-0.07) 0.13 (95% CI: 0.1-0.16)
Normal liver (A0-F0)     8/53 (15%)  4/101 (4%)parallel
Positive PCR     66/66 (100%) 82/85 (97%)
HCV viremiadagger dagger mean ± SD (range)     68.4 ± 145.2 (2-881) 41.8 ± 62.6 (2-341)
Median     12.1 (95% CI: 4.2-31) 18.4 (95% CI: 13.6-28.7)
*  P < .0001 (between group I and the other groups).
dagger P = .01 between HCV-RNA-negative patients with normal ALT value and HCV-RNA-positive patients with normal ALT value.
Dagger P < .0001 (between group II and the other groups).
§  P < .0001 (between group II and the other groups).
parallel P < .01 (between group II and the other groups).
P < .0001 (between group I and II).
** In 2 patients, HCV RNA was not assessed; dagger dagger 105 Eqvir/mL.

 

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