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The SGOT/SGPT ratio—An indicator of alcoholic liver disease

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Abstract

The SGOT/SGPT ratio is significantly elevated in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis (2.85±0.2) compared with patients with postnecrotic cirrhosis (1.74±0.2), chronic hepatitis (1.3±0.17), obstructive jaundice (0.81±0.06) and viral hepatitis (0.74 ±0.07). An SGOT/SGPT ratio greater than 2 is highly suggestive of alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. It occurs in 70% of these patients compared with 26% of patients with postnecrotic cirrhosis, 8% with chronic hepatitis, 4% with viral hepatitis and none with obstructive jaundice.

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This work was supported by Training Grant AM 07024 and Research Grant AM 10571 from the National Institutes of Health.

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Cohen, J.A., Kaplan, M.M. The SGOT/SGPT ratio—An indicator of alcoholic liver disease. Digest Dis Sci 24, 835–838 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01324898

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