In this thesis, we have compared the determination of enzyme aspartate aminotransferase
(AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in hepatitis and alcoholic liver cirrhosis.
We investigated whether there are differences in the ratio of AST / ALT enzymes in hepatitis
and alcoholic liver cirrhosis and between the sexes in liver cirrhosis. AST/ALT ratio was
calculated from enzyme values obtained by kinetic method. With this method we seek to contribute
to greater specificity in the interpretation of results. Statistically, we found that alleged
differences in AST/ALT ratio between genders cannot be confirmed nor denied. In alcoholic
liver cirrhosis, the average ratio of AST / ALT is 2,12. With this, we have confirmed the alleged
claim of AST / ALT > 1. Values for hepatitis are deviating from the expected (AST /
ALT <1). The average ratio of AST / ALT amounted to 1,91. This deviation is a consequence
of a relatively small population of subjects. T-test showed that differences between the average
ratio of AST / ALT in alcoholic cirrhosis and hepatitis are random, meaning that we cannot
claim anything about them.
It can be concluded that the determination of the ratio of AST / ALT is inadequate indicator of
alcoholic liver cirrhosis and hepatitis and that on the basis of our findings, we cannot infer on
the characteristics of the population.
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