Study on Liver Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Bangladesh

Diabetes mellitus (DM) represents one of the major lifestyle-related pathological conditions; the incidence and prevalence of DM have reached an epidemic level around the world. Diabetes mellitus is usually associated with obesity, coronary diseases, and cerebral pathologies. However, more insights are required to evaluate a temporal relation between DM and hepatic functions. This study assesses whether and to what extent liver functions are modified in DM patients.

A total of 100 patients with type 2 DM and 100 normal healthy controls were enrolled in this study following proper scrutiny of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Different parameters of liver function tests were measured in patients in the two groups. Data were analyzed to assess the extent and magnitude of abnormal liver functions in DM.

The levels of bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin, and prothrombin time were 0.737 ± 0.311 mg/dL, 39.00 ± 24.21 IU/L, 26.42 ± 10.40 IU/L, 4.10 ± 0.513 g/dL, and 16.46 ± 2.78 seconds in patients with DM and 0.506 ± 0.183 mg/dL, 28.26 ± 6.67 IU/L, 18.90 ± 4.75 IU/L, 4.12 ± 0.277 g/dL, and 14.23 ± 1.04 seconds in control subjects. Statistical analyses revealed that most of these parameters of liver function test were significantly different in DM patients compared to control subjects (p < 0.05). Serum alkaline phosphatase level was 89.61 ± 25.59 mg/dL in type 2 DM patients and 96.83 ± 16.34 mg/dL in control subjects (p > 0.05). The prevalence of abnormal values of serum bilirubin, ALT, AST, prothrombin time, and albumin were 5.17, 31.03, 5.17, 5.17, 43.10, and 10.34% respectively in type 2 DM patients and 0, 2, 0, 2, 3, and 0% respectively in control subjects, indicating high prevalence of DM patients with abnormal liver functions.

Abnormal liver functions of different extents and magnitudes have been found in type 2 DM patients, and the impact of abnormal liver function should be considered during the management of DM patients and also to assess their long-term follow-up prognosis.

Rashid MHO, Haque MZ, Rahman MK, Khan MMR, Rahman ASMM, Al-Mahtab M, Rahman MS, Roy PK, Islam MN. Study on Liver Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Bangladesh. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2016;6(1):1-4.