Correlation between infection of herpes virus family and liver function parameters: a population-based...

To evaluate the relationship between seropositivity to herpes virus family and liver function parameters in children from southwest China.

A 2-year cross-sectional retrospective study of 6,396 children aged 6 months to 12 years was performed. All participants underwent physical examination and liver function tests.

Of the children, 622 were positive for EBV, HSV, or CMV IgM, with dramatic changes in liver function parameters. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were negatively correlated with EBV-IgM and hepatocellular injuries in children < 3 years of age, whereas a positive correlation between lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and EBV-IgM and hepatocellular injuries was documented in children < 1 year of age. In those < 1 year and 3-6 years of age, HSV-IgM seropositivity was positively correlated with indirect bilirubin and γ-glutamyl transferase. The percentage of children < 1 year of age with positive CMV-IgM was 72.8% (158/217), approximately five times higher than that in those 1-3 years. Sixty-three children were infected with two pathogens simultaneously. Abnormal levels of LDH were observed in 85.71% of children simultaneously infected with CMV and HSV, 77.78% for CMV and EBV, 83.33% for EBV and HSV, and irregular levels of AST were noted in 69.19% of children infected with CMV and HSV, 77.78% for CMV and EBV, and 83.33% for EBV and HSV.

Seropositivity to herpes virus family was correlated with abnormal liver function parameters across years of age. Clinicians should aim to protect the liver function of children infected with herpes viruses.