Alanine aminotransferase deficiency in a hepatitis B surface antigen positive patient presenting with acute hepatitis.

This report presents a hepatitis B surface antigen positive case presenting with acute hepatitis and with findings of low serum alanine aminotransferase in contrast to very high levels of aspartate aminotransferase. A 64 year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital with fatigue and jaundice. Hepatitis B surface antigen was positive. During follow up, aspartate aminotransferase levels remained very high, while alanine aminotransferase levels continued to be extremely low. Additionally, all of the patients five daughters had low alanine aminotransferase levels. The clinical importance of alanine aminotransferase deficiency is still unclear.