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Published on: January 28, 2019
Transaminase in rotavirus gastroenteritis
Hisashi Kawashima1, Chiako Ishii, Hiroaki Ioi
1Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. hisashi@tokyo-med.ac.jp
Insights
Rotavirus infection can cause mild hepatitis, with high transaminase levels potentially indicating elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6). Neurological complications were not correlated with these liver function changes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Viral Infections
- Hepatology
Background:
- Rotavirus infection in children can present with symptoms mimicking biliary atresia, including elevated transaminases and pale stools.
- Associated neurological symptoms like convulsions, encephalopathy, and Reye syndrome have been reported.
- The clinical significance of elevated transaminases and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in rotavirus infection requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate transaminase and IL-6 levels in children with rotavirus infection.
- To understand the clinical significance of these markers, particularly in relation to neurological complications.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of liver function tests, focusing on transaminase and IL-6 levels.
- Comparison of results between rotavirus gastroenteritis patients with and without convulsions.
Main Results:
- Elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were observed in 88.5% and 11.5% of samples, respectively.
- No significant differences in liver function tests were found between groups with or without convulsions.
- A strong positive correlation (Spearman's coefficient = 0.89) was found between AST and IL-6 levels.
Conclusions:
- Rotavirus infection can be associated with mild hepatitis, not linked to neurological complications.
- High transaminase levels in rotavirus infection may be indicative of elevated IL-6 levels.
Background:
Children infected with rotavirus often show increased levels of transaminase, and symptoms are characterized by white stool, similar to biliary atresia. Rotavirus infections are also sporadically accompanied with convulsions, encephalopathy and Reye syndrome. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate transaminase and interleukin (IL)-6 levels in rotavirus infection, in order to better understand their clinical significance.
Methods:
Results of liver function tests, mainly the elevation of transaminase and IL-6 in rotavirus gastroenteritis with or without convulsions, were evaluated.
Results:
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were high in 23 of 26 samples (88.5%), and in three of 26 samples (11.5%), respectively. No significant differences in liver function tests could be found between the groups with or without convulsions. Three patients whose direct bilirubin levels were above the upper normal limit were all classified into the group without convulsions. Spearman's correlation coefficient was 0.89 between increasing AST levels and IL-6 levels.
Conclusion:
Rotavirus infection is occasionally accompanied with hepatitis, but only in a mild form, and does not correlate with neurological complications. High levels of transaminase might reflect high IL-6.
