Role of alanine transaminase as an indicator of non alcoholic fatty liver patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to see the role of Alanine transaminase [ALT] as an indicator of Non Alcoholic Fatty liver disease [NAFLD] in patients having Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus. This was a descriptive study carried out al PMRC FJMC Lahore. A total of 63 diabetic cases that were diagnosed on ultrasonography as nonalcoholic fatty liver were recruited in this study. Demographic profile of the patients were recorded and all were subjected to lab investigation which included random blood glucose, serum triglycerides and liver function tests including viral marker of the hepatitis. Fatty liver was more prevalent in female patients 47 out of 63 [74.6%] and is more common above 40 years of age, median age being 46 years. The duration of disease was prolonged with median of 6 years. It is seen that 28/63 [44.5%] were hypertensive, 31% had hyperlipidemia and 9.5% were having ischemic heart disease. Majority of patients 28 out of 63 [44.5%] had hepatomegaly. The liver enzymes results showed that 12 of the 63 [19%] were positive for hepatitis B and C and had ALT level raised with mean of 63.00 +/- 40.66. While, among the other 51 patients without hepatitis B and C ALT level were within normal range in 36 [71%] of the cases. While in rest of 29%%15 out of 51 they were only mildly elevated. Thus showing that ALT has no role as an indicator of fatty liver. Alanine transaminase is not an indicator of NAFLD and mild elevation can be due to the metabolic disturbances in type-2 diabetic patients. It is therefore, suggested that ultrasound graph is a good tool to detect the NAFLD in its early stage