Summary
We measured the sequential changes in 2′,5′ oligoadenylate synthetase activity in 21 patients with acute viral hepatitis (5 with type A, 6 with type B, and 10 with type non-A, non-B hepatitis) by radioimmunoassay. Liver biopsies were performed during the acute phase in all patients. Among patients with acute hepatitis A and B, the 2′,5′ oligoadenylate synthetase levels were transiently elevated at the time of the peak alanine aminotransferase level in the patients in whom a liver biopsy showed acute hepatitis or non-specific reactive hepatitis. Of 10 patients with acute non-A, non-B hepatitis, 4 showed a similar 2′,5′ oligoadenylate synthetase activity pattern and liver histology to those observed in acute hepatitis A and B. In the remaining 6, the 2′,5′ oligoadenylate synthetase levels remained elevated for 3.5 to 6 months while the alanine aminotransferase was elevated. Liver biopsy in these patients showed chronic hepatitis. Persistent detection of raised 2′,5′ oligoadenylate synthetase activity levels during the acute stage of non-A, non-B hepatitis may thus be an indicator of progression of the disease.
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Okuno, T., Shindo, M., Arai, K. et al. Detection of 2′,5′ oligoadenylate synthetase activity in acute viral hepatitis with special reference to histologic features in the acute stage. Gastroenterol Jpn 26, 162–169 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02811075
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02811075