Table 3.

Pattern of Mean Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) Level Elevations Among Hepatitis C Virus RNA–Positive Blood Donors

ALT Level, Mean	No. (%)	No. (%) Biopsied	Mean HAI		No. (%) Severe Fibrosisa
Normalb	127 (33)	42 (33)	6.19		3 (7)
Elevated	255 (67)	142 (55)	7.50		24 (17)
1–2 × ULN	185 (48)	94 (51)	7.08	P < .001c	13 (14)	P < .001d
2–5 × ULN	64 (17)	45 (70)	8.20		10 (22)
>5 × ULN	6 (2)	3 (50)	10.33		1 (33)

Abbreviations: HAI, histologic activity index; ULN, upper limit of normal.

^a Defined as Ishak stage 3–6 (bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis).

^b Persistently normal in 57 of 127 donors (45%). Of these 57, 7 (12%) underwent biopsy, with none having severe fibrosis.

^c There is a significant trend of increasing HAI with increasing ALT group.

^d There is a significant trend of severe fibrosis with increasing ALT group.