Liver biochemical tests and dengue fever

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Biochemistry

Background:

• Dengue fever is a significant public health concern, particularly during outbreaks.
• The potential impact of dengue virus infection on liver function is not fully understood.
• Previous studies have suggested a possible link between dengue and liver abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of dengue infection on liver function through biochemical tests.
• To determine the prevalence and pattern of liver enzyme abnormalities in dengue patients.
• To compare liver function test results in dengue patients with and without co-infections or bleeding episodes.

Main Methods:

• Biochemical tests were performed on 270 patients (125 male, 145 female) diagnosed with dengue during an outbreak.
• Levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (G-GT) were analyzed.
• Liver biopsies were conducted on two patients, and results were compared between subgroups (e.g., with/without hepatitis B/C, with/without bleeding).

Main Results:

• Abnormal AST, ALT, and G-GT levels were observed in 93.3%, 82.2%, and 83.0% of patients, respectively.
• Transaminase elevations were generally mild to moderate, but 10-fold increases were noted in some cases.
• Higher AST, ALT, and G-GT elevations were significantly associated with bleeding episodes.

Conclusions:

• Dengue fever can induce significant hepatic injury and transaminase elevation, mimicking viral hepatitis.
• Liver function abnormalities in dengue patients warrant consideration in differential diagnosis, especially in endemic areas.
• Bleeding complications in dengue may correlate with more severe liver enzyme derangements.