Hepatic dysfunction in dengue: A teritary care hospital experience

Abstract

Background- The objective of study to evaluate liver dysfunction in patients with dengue infections and co-relation between liver function test & platelet count. Methods- Hospital based case-control study conducted on 141 hospitalized with Dengue infection (NS 1 and IgM positive). Dengue Seropositive patients are selected and subjected to complete blood count and Liver function tests were analysed. Results-The participants were found to have elevated levels of SGOT, SGPT levels and lower levels of serum albumin and platelet count as compare to control on evaluation. The significant negative correlation was noted between SGOT/ SGPT levels and baseline platelet counts levels. The Pearson correlation between platelet count and SGOT showed r = -0.185 and p-value <0.01 which proves that when platelet count decreases, the SGOT levels increases. Similarly, for the correlation between platelet count and SGPT showed r=-0.166 and <0.01 which proves that when platelet count decreases, the SGPT levels increases. Conclusion- Statistically significant co-relation was observed between liver enzymes with platelet count. Furthermore, the severity of dengue infection predicted the severity of liver derangements. It is recommended that Patients with dengue infections be screened for hepatic dysfunction. As hepatic dysfunction in dengue is transient and reversible, early identification of the same would help to reduce life threatening complications.