[Aminotransferases serum levels in patients with Dengue type 3].
BACKGROUND
Dengue infections may affect the liver, causing inflammation and compromising its function.


OBJECTIVE
To determine serum aminotransferases in patients with Dengue.


METHODS
One hundred eighty four patients with Dengue confirmed with anti-Dengue IgG and IgM antibodies measured by ELISA, aged 1 month to 79 years, were studied. As controls, 40 patients with acute hepatitis B virus infection aged 11 to 59 years and 40 healthy individuals, aged 14 to 55 years, were also studied. Alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (ALT and AST) were determined using a colorimetric method.


RESULTS
Sixty one percent of patients with Dengue had elevated aminotransferase levels. In patients with Dengue and hepatitis B, mean ALT levels were 21.3+/-8.4 and 29.7+/-18.8 U/I, respectively. Mean AST values were 37.3+/-19, 19.6+/- 16.4 and 4.3+/-1.7 U/I in patients with Dengue, hepatitis B and controls, respectively. During the year 2001, there was an increase in the number of cases with hemorrhagic fever caused by Dengue and 65% had elevation of aminotransferases.


CONCLUSIONS
An increase in aminotransf erase levels is common in patients with Dengue.
Valero C
Nereida
N
Sección de Virología, Instituto de Investigaciones Clínicas Dr. Américo Negrette, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela. nere98@hotmail.com
Reyes V
Ivette
I
Larreal E
Yraima
Y
Maldonado E
Mery
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003715:Dengue / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000821:virology; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019595:Severe Dengue / Q000201:enzymology / Q000821:virology
D015415:Biomarkers; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase