What factor is used to describe the DeRitis ratio in patients with acute hepatitis?

The DeRitis ratio is defined as the ratio of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT). In acute hepatitis, the expected value for this ratio is typically greater than 1.0. This is significant because the elevation of AST, compared to ALT, often indicates that there is a larger contribution from factors related to hepatocellular injury, which is more characteristic of conditions such as alcoholic hepatitis or viral hepatitis.

In acute hepatitis, the liver cells are damaged, leading to the release of both AST and ALT into the bloodstream. However, the increase in AST can be more pronounced than that of ALT, leading to a ratio greater than 1.0. This finding assists clinicians in determining the etiology of liver injury and aids in diagnosis, highlighting the importance of understanding the implications of the DeRitis ratio in the context of liver function assessment.

Thus, a ratio greater than 1.0 is indicative of specific pathophysiological conditions associated with liver damage, making it the correct interpretation in the case of acute hepatitis.