A study of liver function test abnormalities and blood sugar levels in patients with malaria

Abstract

Background: It is observed that the patients of falciparum malaria with liver function abnormalities are more vulnerable to the development of dreaded complications of plasmodium falciparum infection. Objective: To study clinical profile of plasmodium Falciparum malaria with special reference to liver function test abnormalities and random blood sugar levels. Methods: Hospital based cross sectional study was carried out from October 2010 to October 2012 among 100 patients of malaria at M.N.R. Medical College & Hospital, Sanga Reddy. All diagnosed cases of plasmodium falciparum malaria were included in the study. Complete detailed history, thorough clinical examination and investigations were done. Results: Blood sugar between 41-60 mg/dL was observed in 4 patients. Blood urea level was raised in 40 patients and serum creatinine level was raised in 40 patients. Maximum blood urea level was 126 mg/dl and maximum creatinine level was 3.8 mg/dl. Serum bilirubin was raised in 90 cases and maximum total bilirubin noted was 31.2 mg/dl. Patients with clinical jaundice showed mean 2-3 fold raise in AST levels, along with ALT levels. Majority of cases of jaundice had normal ALK level 6 of them showed modest increase above normal. Serum proteins found to be normal in all cases, 4 cases showed raised prothrombin time. Conclusion: Mild and transient hepatic dysfunction along with presence of hepatomegaly and jaundice and increased level of serum enzymes has become of common feature of falciparum malaria. Presence of jaundice is bad prognostic indicator. Hospital stay increases with multiorgan dysfunction Mortality was 4% in this study.