LIVER FUNCTION INDICATORS IN NIGERIA SICKLE CELL DISEASE PATIENTS

Hepatic dysfunction is a commonly recognized complication of sickle cell disease (SCD) hence this study. Liver function was assessed in 60 patients with sickle cell disease in the steady state and 50 control subjects using the serum levels of Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin as test indicators. They were analyzed using standard procedures.

The mean values of liver function indicators; Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Bilirubin (BIL) were 39.10+2.73, 28.53+2.77, 94.12+5.86 U/l and 27.99+5.21 umol/l respectively. The corresponding values in controls were 20.66+1.01, 25.16+ 1.42, 68.00+2.89 U/l and 2.55+0.27 umol/l. The AST, ALP and BIL values obtained in sickle cell disease patients were statistically significant (P<0.05) when compared with controls while ALT values were not. Age and gender of the patients did not significantly affect the levels of these parameters with the exception of ALP which was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the lower age groups.

Conclusively, increased serum activities of AST, ALP and levels of BIL with normal activity of ALT which are not gender or age related were observed in sickle cell disease patients in the steady state. Hence, liver function tests could serve as an adjunct to other conventional laboratory tests such as haemoglobin electrophoresis, sickling test and solubility test in diagnosis and management of sickle cell disease.