The De Ritis (AST/ALT) Ratio in Alcohol Dependence Syndrome with and without Alcoholic Liver Disease

Abstract

Introduction
Alcoholism is characterized by an impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with alcohol and use of alcohol despite adverse consequences. Alcohol consumption is associated with a number of changes in cell functions and the oxidant-antioxidant system.
Aim and objectives
The main aim of the study is to estimate the Serum AST, Serum ALT, De Ritis ratio (AST/ALT ratio) and GGT in ADS with and without alcoholic liver disease patients.
Material and methods
It was a cross-sectional study performed in alcoholic patients in inpatients of the department of Psychiatry, at St. John’s Medical College and Hospital. The total sample size was 60, out of which 30 were ADS subjects with alcoholic liver disease and 30 were ADS subjects without liver disease. The parameters including AST, ALT, GGT and BMI were performed on each groups and then compared statistically by Mann Whitney U test. Laboratory parameters were also correlated with alcohol related clinical variables.
Result
The analysis revealed a significantly elevated AST, AST/ALT ratio and GGT in ADS with ALD group than without ALD group; however there was no significant difference in ALT between both the groups.
Conclusion
This study has highlighted the importance of not only the individual markers such as AST or ALT but also the ratio of them. In the future, a combination of markers should be use to improve the specificity and sensitivity of these markers in identifying early damage of liver in Alcoholism. This will help in prevention of alcoholic cirrhosis which is the end stage of liver damage.