Abnormal hepatic function and splenomegaly on the newly diagnosed acute leukemia patients.

To evaluate the liver function, splenomegaly and related factors in the newly diagnosed acute leukemia patients. One hundred of fifty eight acute leukemia patients admitted in our hospital from March 2003 to April 2006 were studied. The related factors such as peripheral WBC count, bone marrow blasts, peripheral blasts, sex, age, AML, ALL affecting the liver function and splenomegaly were evaluated. Sixty two (39.24%) patients presented with splenomegaly. Twelve (7.59%) patients presented with hepatomegaly. Serum ALT was elevated in 54 (34.17%) patients. Similarly, serum AST, GGT, ALP, and Direct bilirubin were elevated in 26 (16.45%), 32 (20.25%), 20 (12.65%), and 22 (13.92%) patients, respectively. Low serum albumin was found in 40 (25.31%) patients. PT was prolonged in 62 (39.24%) patients. Statistical study shows that there is a relation between high WBC counts and elevated serum ALT (P<0.05) and high WBC counts and splenomegaly (P<0.05). Acute leukemia patients with leukocytosis are more prone to develop abnormal liver function and splenomegaly.

Alterations in the levels and lipid composition of plasma lipoproteins (VLDL, LDL and HDL) in Brazilian patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni

1. The plasma concentrations of low- and high-density lipoproteins (LDL and HDL) were significantly reduced in Brazilian patients with compensated hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni (SM) when compared with healthy individuals, but very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels were unchanged. 2. All three classes of lipoproteins isolated from SM plasma had an increased content of triacylglycerol and unesterified cholesterol and decreased cholesteryl ester and phospholipid. 3. The individual phospholipid composition of patient VLDL, LDL, HDL was also altered; the amount of phosphatidylcholine was increased and that of lysophosphatidylcholine decreased. 4. The saturated and monounsaturated fatty acyl content of cholesteryl esters in patient lipoproteins was also significantly increased, and diunsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acyl content was decreased. 5. When isolated lipoproteins were examined as negatively stained preparations by electron microscopy, the morphology of SM patient LDL was normal but the HDL fraction was abnormal and showed marked heterogeneity of size with the presence of occasional discoidal particles which resembled nascent HDL

Liver biochemical profiles in hepatomegalic patients with diabetes mellitus

Liver biochemical tests regarding serum aminotrasnsfereases [AST, ALT], alkaline phospahatases[ALP], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], gamma glutamyltransferase [GGT], cholesterol, total and conjugated bilirubin, total proteins and electrophoretic fractions were measured in 59 diabetic patients with hepatomegaly and a control group of 50 subjects without diabetes or hepatomegaly. Significant increases of SAST, SALT, SALP, SLDH, SGGT, and serum cholesterol were found in diabetics with hepatomegaly as compared to the diabetic with no hepatomegaly and the control group. There was also significant difference between total serum bilirubin concentration in hepatomegalic diabetics and controls, but no significant difference with those diabetic patients with normal liver size. The Level of serum albumin was significantly lower while alpha[1], alpha[2], beta and total globulins were significantly higher in hepatomegalic diabetics than in the control group