Serum aminotransferase activities in sickle cell children during crises

A total of 78 children with diagnosis of sickle cell disease (HbSS) aged 1-12 years were involved in this study; while 60 normal children (HbAA) of the same age range served as controls. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.2), aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1), total protein and albumin were assayed in all the sickle cell children both in crises and steady state and in all the normal children. During crises, most of the sickle cell children had significantly raised levels of serum aminotransferases together with reduced levels of serum total protein and albumin. When these levels are compared with the ones observed during the steady state, the differences are highly significant. On the other hand, when the results obtained during the steady state are compared with those of the control group, the differences are not significant. These results are discussed in relation to the hepatic degenerative changes observed in sickle cell crises. It is clear from this study that the more clinical painful crises the children experience, the hepatic cells would be exposed to persistent injury which may eventually result in cell death.