Glycohaemoglobin Concentration and Hepatocellular Enzymes Activities in Malaria Patients in Owerri, Nigeria

Abstract

Objectives; The study aims to estimate the level of glycohaemoglobin concentration and activities of hepatocellullar enzymes; aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in patients with malaria. Background: Malaria is a public health problem in Nigeria and a major hinderance to economic development. There is growing evidence that malaria affects the hepatic cells. Method: 100 confirmed malaria patients age ranged between 10-20 years attending General Hospital Owerri were selected for the study. 100 normal subjects age 10-20 years free from malaria were used as a control group. Patients with infections, catarrh and cough were excluded. Results: The result showed that the glycohaemoglobin significantly decreased (4.80± 1.6%) P< 0.05 in malaria subjects when compared with the control (5.92 ±0.42%). Serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (29.90 ± 5.82iu/l) and alanine aminotransferase (19.64± 3.11iu/l) were significantly higher P<0.05 in malaria subjects when compared with the control (19.71 ± 2. 41iu/l) and (13.24±2.16u/l) respectively. Alkaline phosphatase serum activity was not significantly different when compared with the control. Conclusion: This shows that malaria patients could probably be prone to low glycohaemoglobin which would indicate a likelihood of hypoglycaemia, and some hepatic enzymes impairment.

Keywords

• Glycohaemoglobin
• hepatocellular enzymes
• Malaria
• Owerri
• Nigeria