The combination of serial ALT, viral load, and LSM appears to be a promising non-invasive tool. A management algorithm for HBeAg-negative patients comprising these non-invasive measures is proposed with liver biopsy being pursued in selected cases.

No abstract

The effect of Aloe vera gel on paracetamol induced liver injury in rats was studied using male Wistar rats divided into four groups. Group 1 (control) received 50% sucrose orally twice daily for 2 days. Group 2 (paracetamol) received a single dose (2.5 g/kg BW) of paracetamol dissolved in 50% sucrose. Groups 3 and 4 (A. vera 100 mg and 300 mg, respectively) received a single dose (2.5 g/kg BW) of paracetamol dissolved in 50% sucrose followed by 100 or 300 mg/kg BW of A. vera gel twice daily for 2 days. Blood was collected to determine alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzymatic activities. Liver tissue samples were collected for hepatic glutathione, hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), and histopathology. The results showed that the serum levels of ALT, AST, and hepatic MDA increased significantly in the paracetamol group compared to that of the control group. The liver histopathology in the paracetamol group revealed vacuolization, cell swelling, and mild infiltration of inflammatory cells around the central vein. Necrosis was observed predominantly around the centrilobular and midzonal regions. There were no differences in hepatic glutathione levels between groups and no difference in hepatic MDA levels between the paracetamol group and A. vera gel treated groups. This study concluded that neither 100 nor 300 mg/kg BW of A. vera protected rats from the liver damage induced by a high dose of paracetamol.