Serum zinc level in patients with liver cirrhosis

ABSTRACT

To determine the serum zinc level in patients with liver cirrhosis. This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted at Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad Sindh, Pakistan. All patients above 12 years of age, of either gender and known [diagnosed] cases of liver cirrhosis were further evaluated for their serum zinc level. The data was analyzed in statistical software [SPSS] and the p value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. One hundred twenty seven cirrhotic patients with means age 42.7559 +/- 15.8894 were evaluated and assessed. The serum zinc was low in 69% patients. According to Child-Pugh classification 72% zinc deficient cirrhotic subjects were in class C, 16% in class B and 12% in class A. 94% subjects had hepatitis C virus infection, 4% had hepatitis B virus infection and 2% had history of alcoholism. The serum zinc level was low in patients with liver cirrhosis