The serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase/serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase ratio as a prognostic index in severe acute viral hepatitis.

The SGOT/SGPT ratio was studied in 25 patients with severe acute viral hepatitis due to either B or non A-non B hepatitis. The transaminase levels were performed within 10 days of onset of the hepatitis or within 4 days of the diagnosis of fulminant hepatic failure. Twelve patients died of their acute illness. There was a significant difference between the SGOT/SGPT ratios of females who died mean = 2.05) and lived (mean 0.45) (p less than 0.001) and between the SGOT/SGPT ratios of males who died (mean - 1.01) and lived (mean 0.45) (p less than 0.02). Using 95% confidence intervals the expected ratios for combined sexes were calculated to be 0.31 to 0.63 for survivors and from 1.20 to 2.26 for nonsurvivors. Neither age not viral etiology affected the prognosis in this study.