[Reestimation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio based on JSCC consensus method--changes of criteria for a differential diagnosis of hepatic disorders following the alteration from Karmen method to JSCC method].

We estimated clinical criteria of aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio that is measured by the consensus method of JSCC (Japan Society of Clinical Chemistry) for serum AST and ALT. The JSCC consensus method is closely correlated with both IFCC (International Federation of Clinical Chemistry) recommended method without pyridoxal phosphate and Karmen method recommended by the expert panel of liver function tests in Japanese Society of Gastroenterology. The slopes of the regression line is estimated to be 1.00 and 0.87 respectively. We propose that the decision making value of AST/ALT ratio to differentiate several types of liver diseases should be set to 0.87 measured by JSCC consensus method, instead of 1.0 measured by Karmen method.