ASSOCIATION OF ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASES (ALT) LEVELS WITH RISK FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE SPREAD OF HCV IN PATIENTS OF DISTRICT RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the most renound viruses of family Flaviviridae, and is the causal agent for hepatitis C. HCV causes liver damage, functional impairment, liver shrinkage and hepatocellular carcinoma. Aim: Present research was designed to find out the relationship of ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) levels with the most recently known risk factors. Study design: A cross-sectional study. Place and duration of the study: Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi for one year duration from March 2019 to December 2019. Methods: Data was taken from 1200 patients visiting the out patients departments of the two main hospitals of rawalpindi. Study participants were 14% males and 86% females, with 93% chronicity cases, ages of majority ranged between 40-49 years, non-addicts and from low socioeconomic status, representatives of all walks of life. A questionnaire was designed on the life habits, risk factors and demographics of the patients Results: There was a significant co-relation between ALT levels and reported risk factors at 90% CI (p < 0.07). While the correlation between ALT levels and gender was non-significant at 90% CI (p