Alteration of transaminases in patients with Dengue in a Provincial Hospital in Córdoba

Abstract

In the course of Dengue disease, different laboratory parameters are altered, being necessary to determine them and to monitor the evaluation and evolution of patient’s condition. The increase in transferases (AST and ALT) is a common finding and although in most cases this increase is mild and selflimiting, quantification is important to assess liver function, as liver damage can lead patients to serious and potentially fatal general condition. The aim of this study was to analyze the behavior of different laboratory parameters, especially AST and ALT enzymes during Dengue infection. Medical records of 108 patients with confirmed diagnosis of Dengue attending Rawson Hospital, city of Córdoba, Argentina, between January and April 2016 were analyzed. The equipment used was: a chemical autoanalyzer TARGA-BT3000 Plus (Wiener) and a CELL-DYN 1800 hematology analyzer (Abbott). Data were statistically analyzed using the Infostat software version 2011. A significant decrease was observed in white blood cells and platelets counts from the third day after the onset of symptoms. An increase in transferases was observed in 84.3% and 75.9% for AST and ALT, respectively. No differences in the levels of the enzymes were found when comparing them with each other or when comparing patients with outpatients. We found a gradual increase in transferase levels in the early days of infection, demonstrating the need to make these determinations at specific times. It would be interesting to conduct new studies where continuous and prospective follow-up was carried out
in a prolonged period after the onset of symptoms for a.