AbstractBackground: Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is an acute hepatic inflammation associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is observed that in AH, the serum transaminase levels are elevated due to acute liver injury. It is also found that the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level are higher compared to serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level which may be attributed to mitochondrial leakage where mitochondrial AST (mAST) would be released along with release of cytosolic AST (cAST). Subsequently there is elevated AST/ALT ratio (De Ritis ratio) observed in alcoholic hepatitis. Methods: 44 cases of alcoholic hepatitis patients who are regular consumers of alcohol for a minimum period of 3 years were included in the study. Serum AST and ALT levels were estimated in all subjects by using commercial kits from Beacon diagnostics, India. The readings were taken on a semiautoanalyzer (Roboniks). Statistics was done using Microsoft excel. Results: It is observed that serum AST/ALT ratio was above 1.0 indicative of alcoholic hepatitis. Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicated that in alcoholic hepatitis there is elevated De Ritis ratio (above 1.0). De Ritis ratio is a simple and reliable diagnostic marker for alcoholic hepatitis.

Keywords: Alcoholic hepatitis, ALT, AST, De Ritis ratio.