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Abstract

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, leading to complications such as fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Serum aminotransferase levels, particularly alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), remain essential biochemical markers for assessing hepatocellular injury. While ALT is more liver-specific, AST may also rise in extrahepatic conditions, making their combined interpretation valuable for evaluating disease progression and severity in chronic HCV.
Objective: To assess ALT and AST levels in patients with chronic HCV and examine gender-based variations in enzyme profiles.
Methods: This retrospective observational study included 110 HCV-positive patients aged 20–87 years, comprising 67 males (60.9%) and 43 females (39.1%). Serum samples were analyzed for ALT and AST activity using Sigma Aldrich alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activity assay kits. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and gender-based differences were assessed using independent t-tests, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: The overall mean ALT level was 61.8 ± 26.9 U/L (range: 21–119), and the mean AST level was 70.3 ± 22.4 U/L (range: 24–98). ALT levels were higher in males (63.8 ± 25.5 U/L) than females (55.9 ± 28.8 U/L), while AST levels were higher in females (71.6 ± 22.1 U/L) than males (69.4 ± 22.6 U/L). Statistical testing revealed no significant gender difference in ALT (p = 0.094), and AST comparison was inconclusive due to computational issues. Enzyme distribution analysis showed a broader spread in AST levels, indicating heterogeneous liver injury severity among patients.
Conclusion: ALT and AST levels remain critical in monitoring liver function in chronic HCV, with AST predominance suggesting advanced hepatic injury. Regular biochemical monitoring, alongside larger and more diverse patient studies, is recommended to improve diagnostic precision and disease management.