Prognostic value of laboratory tests in viral hepatitis
Starosel'skiĭ, D.V.; Startseva, G.G.; Granitov, V.M.; Klinovenko, N.G.
Laboratornoe Delo 1980(3): 136-140
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-6748 PMID: 6155513 Document Number: 162235
The prognostic value of a number of clinical laboratory tests characterizing the degree of hepatocyte damage and the intensity of the inflammatory and necrotic processes in viral hepatitis were studied in 1500 patients. The earliest signs of hepatic dystrophy were leukocytosis, high thymol test indices, low content of the 3 principal serum Ig classes and reduction of the mercuric bichloride test indices Later reduction of plasma prothrombin activity was observed. The progress of changes in leukocytosis and prothrombin level should be studied for the prognosis of coma. Early signs of the development of a protracted course of viral hepatitis are a relatively low level of serum IgM and a low value of the IgM/IgA coefficient from the first days of the disease. Predictors of a relapse of hepatitis are an increase of the initially low IgA level, a reduction of the IgM/IgA coefficient, delayed normalization of serum transm transaminase activity and the sialic acid concentration during convalescence.