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American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 115, No. 6: 929-940
Copyright © 1982 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health

research-article

THE DISTRIBUTION OF SERUM ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE LEVELS IN A BLOOD DONOR POPULATION1

RICHARD A. KAHN2, GINA JOHNSON, RICHARD D. AACH, ANDRIA HINES, FRANK R. ELLIS and WILLIAM V. MILLER

2Reprint requests to Dr Kahn, American Red Cross, Missouri/Illinois Regional Blood Services, 4050 Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63108

The authors studied the distribution of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in 10,034 volunteer blood donors. The mean ± SD ALT value was 21.4 ± 19.3 IU/liter; 549 (5.5%) of the donors had an ALT value greater than 45 IU; 2.5 per cent had ALT values >60 IU. In general, ALT levels were higher In males than in females, and were age related; peak values occurred in the third decade of life for males and between 50–60 years of age in females. ALT values greater than 45 IU were found significantly more often in males, In donors of both sexes 30–40 years of age, In married donors, in non Caucasians, and in those whose education level was no higher than high school. Follow-up samples in donors with an initial ALT >45 IU, revealed that 67% continued to have ALT values above 45 IU 2–8 weeks following initial sampling, and 40% had an ALT >45 IU when tested again six months after entry into the study. ALT values >60 IU were associated with a significantly increased prevalence of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HB8) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBC) occurring together. No statistically significant association was found between transaminase activity and the prevalence of anti-HBs or anti-HBc alone, or with hepatitis A antibody. These findings demonstrate that there are defined sociodemographic and serologic features of donors with elevated ALT values.

alanine aminotransferase; blood donors; hepatitis viruses; hepatitis; viral; non-A; non-B

1From the American Red Cross Blood Services, Missouri/Illinois Region, and Washington University, Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, MO


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