Profile of alanine aminotransferase and hepatic iron accumulation in thalassemic patients with or without anti-hepatitis C virus

Abstract

Background Repeated blood transfusions in thalassemic patients cause iron accumulation in tissues and might impair organ func- tion. Other peril of blood transfusion is hepatitis C virus infection. Objectives This study aimed to find out the proportion of increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), increased transferrin saturation (TS), and positive anti hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) among thalas- semic patients and to get the profile of ALT among thalassemic patients who have increased TS and positive anti-HCV. Methods This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on β- and β-HbE-thalassemic patients at the Thalassemia Outpa- tient Clinic, Department of Child Health, Medical School, Univer- sity of Indonesia–Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in May 2002. Results Subjects were 57 homozygous β-thalassemic and 33 β- HbE-thalassemic patients. No one had regular desferoxamine or history of splenectomy. Proportions of increased ALT, TS, and posi- tive anti-HCV were 76%, 78%, and 6%, respectively. Duration of illness, total volume of packed red cell (PRC) transfusions, TS level, and positive anti-HCV seemed to have role in the increased pro- portion of subjects with increased ALT, whereas duration of illness and total volume of PRC seemed to have role in the increased TS. Conclusion Factors that seem to have a role in the increased proportion of subjects who had increased ALT and TS were (1) duration of illness, total volume of PRC transfusion, TS, and posi- tive anti-HCV; 2) duration of illness and total volume of PRC trans- fusion, respectively

Keywords

• alanine aminotransferase
• hepatic iron accumulation
• transferrin saturation
• anti hepatitis C virus
• thalassemia