Salicylate level and liver function tests in patients with rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart diseases

ABSTRACT

This study was carried on 48 cases, their ages ranged from 6 to 12 years. They were classified into 3 groups 20 patients with rheumatic carditis [group I] and 18 patients with rheumatic arthritis [group II], both groups were in salicylate therapy 100 mg/kg/day. Both groups were matched with 10 apparently healthy children considered as controls. Liver function tests including serum bilirubin, AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, serum albumin and TSP were estimated for all groups and salicylate level for those receiving salicylates. The effect of salicylate therapy in the usual therapeutic dose in rheumatic patients appears to decrease slightly serum proteins and slightly increases liver enzymes AST, ALP and serum bilirubin level. No correlation was found between the dose of salicylate or its duration and the level of hepatic enzymes. There was only a weak negative correlation between the salicylate level and the values of total serum proteins and albumin