Hepatitis C, table 2, Slow Progression Rate ofFibrosis in Hepatitis C Virus Patients With Persistently NormalAlanine Transaminase Activity

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 ± 0.45
Median	1 (95% CI: 0-1)^*	0 (95% CI: 0-1)
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 viremiamean ± 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 ± 1.10
Median	1 (95% CI: 1-1)	2 (CI: 1-2)
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%)
Positive PCR	66/66 (100%)	82/85 (97%)^¶
HCV viremiamean ± 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). P = .01 between HCV-RNA-negative patients with normal ALT value and HCV-RNA-positive patients with normal ALT value. P < .0001 (between group II and the other groups). ^§ P < .0001 (between group II and the other groups). P < .01 (between group II and the other groups). ^¶ P < .0001 (between group I and II). ^** In 2 patients, HCV RNA was not assessed; 10⁵ Eqvir/mL.