title: The impact of dengue on liver function as evaluated by aminotransferase levels.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of dengue virus infection on liver function by measuring aminotransferase in blood samples from patients serologically diagnosed by according to two MAC-ELISA protocols. Degrees of liver damage were classified according to aminotransferase levels: grade A--normal enzyme levels; grade B--increased levels of at least one of the enzymes; grade C--increased, with at least one of the enzymes being at levels higher than three times the upper reference values; grade D--acute hepatitis, with aminotransferase levels at least ten times their normal values. Of the 169 serologically confirmed cases of dengue at the dengue referral center in Campos dos Goytacazes in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 65.1% had abnormal aminotransferase levels: 81 cases being classified as grade B, 25 as grade C and 3 as grade D. A further 34.9% of cases had normal enzyme levels and were classified as grade A. Liver damage is a common complication of dengue infection and aminotransferase levels are a valuable marker for monitoring these cases.
authors.affiliation: Dengue Reference Center, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Brazil. sbcm.rol@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Luiz José
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Rita Maria Ribeiro
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.forename: Leandro Cordeiro
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo Cordeiro
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Bruno Fernandes
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Ribas
authors.forename: Felipe Pinto
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Fabíola Rodrigues
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Felipe Eulálio Baldi
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Pessanha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003715:Dengue / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019595:Severe Dengue / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase