Alteration of liver function among patients with hepatitis and cirrhotic disorders

Abstract

Background: Interpretation of abnormalities in liver function tests is a common problem faced by clinicians, especially in hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis. Serum ALP, AST, ALT, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, albumin, globulin level, and AST/ALT ratio are significantly altered in liver diseases. This study aimed to investigate the alteration of the liver function tests (LFT) in patients with liver disorders.

Methods: This study included 85 patients diagnosed with hepatitis and 78 with cirrhosis of liver. Liver function tests were analyzed by using standard methods. Data analysis was performed using SPSS ver. 11.5 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Results: Patients with cirrhosis had higher age, serum indirect bilirubin, and globulin than those with hepatitis whereas patients with cirrhosis had lower serum ALP, ALT, direct bilirubin, and albumin. Patients with AST/ALT ratio greater than 1.5 tend to be diagnosed as having cirrhosis, 30.3 times more than hepatitis. Patients with albumin level ≤ 3.5 g/dl were 12.0 times more likely to diagnosed as having than hepatitis. Patients with age higher than 45 years old tended to diagnosed as having cirrhosis 7.1 times more than those with hepatitis.

Conclusions: The most significant marker for differentiation between hepatitis and cirrhosis condition was AST/ALT ratio which was more than 1.5, serum albumin level ≤ 3.5 g/dl and age of patients more than 45 years old, respectively. It will be worthwhile for clinicians to have such data as a guide to appropriate and effective treatment.