Abnormal liver function test in patients with diabetes and hypertension on treatment at the Laquintinie and Douala General Hospitals

Comorbidity of diabetes mellitus and hypertension is common, with both diseases and their treatment being able to cause liver function abnormalities, which can lead to liver failure. This study aims to access the effect of drugs used in the management of these diseases on liver function. A cross sectional study will be conducted, followed by a case-control design. Ethical clearance will be obtained from the Faculty of Health Sciences Institutional Review Board and administrative authorization from the various hospital directorates. The sampling procedure adopted will be consecutive and shall include all consenting patients aged 21 years and above, treated for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or both. Pregnant women, patients with liver disease, viral hepatitis, as well as those on known hepatotoxic drugs will be excluded. Clinical, lifestyle, anthropometric data as well as venous blood samples will be collected and analyzed for liver enzymes (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and gamma glutamyl transferase) total or conjugated bilirubin, hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C virus antibodies. Student T-test will be used to compare means and chi-square to test for proportion. Associated factors will also be determined using odds ratios. A p-value of <0.05 will be considered significant. The prevalence of liver function abnormalities shall be determined. Determinants of liver function abnormalities shall also be identified.

Plasmodium falciparum-induced kidney and liver dysfunction in malaria patients in Freetown; Sierra Leone

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Plasmodium falciparum infection on kidney and liver function parameters in malaria patients in Freetown; Sierra Leone. Blood samples taken from 64 malaria patients and 64 non-malaria volunteers at Abanita and Blue Shield Hospitals; Freetown Sierra Leone between January to April; 2009 were examined. Changes in serum biochemical parameters were analysed using normal range values as baseline. Serum bilirubin; alkaline phosphatase (ALP); alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentrations were significantly elevated in falciparum malaria patients compared to their non-malaria counterparts which is an indication of defective liver function. Most of patients with falciparum malaria also have significantly high serum concentrations of urea; creatinine; sodium and potassium showing alteration in kidney function. This study suggests that malaria parasites could be responsible for derangement of kidney and liver functions in patients and could therefore contribute to organ damage in affected individuals if not treated

Apport de l'echographie de contraste dans la caracterisation de l'hyperplasie nodulaire focale; tumeur benigne du foie

"Notre etude porte sur 3 observations en echographie de contraste avec un produit de contraste ultra sonore de 2eme generation. Il s'agit de microbulles d'hexafluorure de soufre; gaz non toxique; non inflammable et a elimination pulmonaire. Ces cas cliniques nous ont permis d'expliciter la cinetique de prise de contraste de l'hyperplasie nodulaire focale (HNF) typique. Cependant; tout comme les methodes de reference (TDM; IRM); l'echographie de contraste n'arrive pas a caracteriser les HNF atypiques. Pour I'HNF typique; on visualise a la phase arterielle precoce la vascularisation en ""rayon de roue"" du nodule; suivie du passage apres 3 a 4 secondes en hypersignal de ce nodule. A la phase portale; le nodule est en iso ou hypersignal. Au temps tardifs; la lesion est en hypersignal. La cicatrice centrale n'est visualisee que dans 60pour cent de cas. L'echographie de contraste grace aux nouvelles sequences complexes de 1 'imagerie non lineaire ameliore fortement 1 'ensemble des explorations echographiques. Cette nouvelle methode est actuellement la plus performante dans la detection des lesions focales hepatiques. Son avenir est donc assez prometteur."

Liver function tests during the perinatal period

Serum iso-citrate dehydrogenase (ICD); aspartate transaminase (AST); alkaline phosphatase (ALP); gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT); total bilirubin; total protein and albumin were determined and compared in 68 paired maternal and corresponding cord blood and in 70 age-matched non-pregnant females. The subjects were without previous history or physical findings of liver disease. The data show that the levels of AST; GGT and total bilirubin were significantly higher in cord blood (p;0.001) than in either maternal or non-pregnant female blood. Serum total protein and albumin were however significantly lower in cord blood (p0.001) than in either maternal or non-present female blood. The significance of the finding especially in the interpretation of liver function tests in the neonate is discussed