How is Chronic Hepatitis diagnosed?
Diagnosis is based on liver biopsy and blood tests. With a liver biopsy, a small piece of the liver is removed through a needle and looked at under a microscope, which shows an excessive portal lymphocytic infiltrate that spreads to adjacent liver parenchyma. Other features are piecemeal necrosis and bridging fibrosis. The serum transaminases are persistently elevated to level that often are 10 times the normal levels. Blood tests can also tell whether the liver is working properly. They can also be used to monitor the liver function and health condition during treatment. The blood test is used to screen and monitor the liver function including aminotransferase and viral antigen and/or antibody tests. Abnormal elevations in SGOT (ALT) and SGPT (AST) indicate liver inflammation. The other blood tests are necessary to determine that the hepatitis is due to hepatitis B or C infection. The normal reference range of SGOT (ALT) is 8 20 U/L, and SGPT (AST) is also 8 20 U/L. They may vary with
