Abstract
BACKGROUND: Beta Thalassemia is the most common chronic hemolytic anemia in Egypt (85.1%) with an estimated carrier rate of 9-10.2%. Injury to the liver, whether acute or chronic, eventually results in an increase in serum concentrations of Alanine transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate transaminase (AST). AIM: Evaluating the potentiating effect of iron overload & viral hepatitis infection on the liver enzymes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty (80) thalassemia major patients were studied with respect to liver enzymes, ferritin, transferrin saturation, HBsAg, anti-HCV antibody and HCV-PCR for anti-HCV positive patients. RESULTS: Fifty % of the patients were anti-HCV positive and 55% of them were HCV-PCR positive. Patients with elevated ALT and AST levels had significantly higher mean serum ferritin than those with normal levels. Anti-HCV positive patients had higher mean serum ferritin, serum ALT, AST and GGT levels and higher age and duration of blood transfusion than the negative group. HCV-PCR positive patients had higher mean serum ferritin and serum ALT and also higher age and duration of blood transfusion than the negative group. CONCLUSION: Iron overload is a main leading cause of elevated liver enzymes, and presence of HCV infection is significantly related to the increased iron overload.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 287-292 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences |
Volume | 3 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2015 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2015 Khaled M. Salama, Ola M. Ibrahim, Ahmed M. Kaddah, Samia Boseila, Leila Abu Ismail, May M. Abdel Hamid.
Keywords
- Beta thalassemia
- Egyptian children
- Iron overload
- Liver enzymes
- Viral hepatitis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine