AST/ALT Ratio: Differential Diagnostic Modality Between ALD and Viral Hepatitis – A Preliminary Study

¹NexIVD Laboratories Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

²Department of Biochemistry, School of Allied & Healthcare Sciences, Malla Reddy University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

*Corresponding Author: Hari Priya S, Department of Biochemistry, School of Allied & Healthcare Sciences, Malla Reddy University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, Email: [email protected]

Received Date: February 25, 2026

Published Date: March 13, 2026

Citation: Sahoo S, et al. (2026). AST/ALT Ratio: Differential Diagnostic Modality Between ALD and Viral Hepatitis – A Preliminary Study. Mathews J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 11(1):40.

Copyrights: Sahoo S, et al. © (2026).

ABSTRACT

Liver disease, major global health burden and accurate differentiation between viral and alcoholic hepatitis is crucial for prognostic assessment, yet the systematic evaluation of cost-effective biochemical markers in populations remains limited. This observational cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital, Hyderabad, India; including 150 participants equally distributed among three groups (n = 50 each). Biochemical parameters were analyzed using fully automated Beckman Coulter AU5800 and platelet count by electrical impedance principle. Independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were performed; p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The biochemical findings revealed early progression of liver disease, characterized by elevated levels of total and direct bilirubin and significantly elevated ALT. In contrast alcoholic hepatitis showed higher AST compared to viral hepatitis group and slightly increased globulin with lower A/G ratio. Platelet count was significantly decreased in viral hepatitis indicating increased risk of hepatic coagulopathy. This study highlights those simple, cost-effective markers, including AST/ALT ratio, bilirubin levels, and platelet count, may serve as non-invasive indicators of liver injury and aid in differentiating Alcoholic from Viral hepatitis.

Keywords: Non- Invasive, Biomarker, Liver Disease, AST/ALT Ratio, Therapeutic Approach.