[Liver involvement in patients with dengue hemorrhagic fever: a rare phenomenon?]

Hepatic manifestations are described as unusual complications of dengue and may lead to severe and potentially lethal conditions. Liver abnormalities in 41 patients diagnosed with dengue hemorrhagic fever in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, between January 1 and March 31, 2002, were evaluated. All were serologically positive for dengue in laboratory tests (IgM ELISA). ALT alterations were observed in 61% (25/41) and AST alterations in 80.5% (33/41), but there were no statistically significant differences between the various clinical forms. The range in ALT levels was 14-547 U/l and in AST levels was 11-298 U/l. Nausea and/or vomiting were reported by 90% (37/41) of the patients; 46.3% (19/41) had abdominal pain and 10% (3/29) presented hepatomegaly at clinical examination. The patients' ages ranged from 18 to 88 years; 23 (56%) were female and 18 (44%) were male.