Correlation Between Liver Function Test and Severity of Dengue Fever at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Rawalpindi

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between changes in serum liver function tests and the severity of dengue fever.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, from 1^st May 2023 till 30^th October 2023.
Methods: Patients aged 18 years and above who had dengue NS1 rapid test assay or dengue IgM/IgG rapid test positive were included in the study using convenience sampling.  Participants with pre-existing liver conditions, chronic kidney disease, pregnant women, and those with concurrent infectious illness were excluded. The World Health Organization classification system was used to classify the patient’s disease severity into Dengue Fever and Severe dengue.
Results: One hundred and seventy-one patients, including 131 (76.61%) males, had a mean age of 35.91±12.86 years. Severe dengue was observed in 15 (8.8%), while 156 (91.2%) had dengue fever. The dengue NS1 protein assay was positive in 169 (98.8%) and dengue serology was positive only in 2 (1.2%). All liver enzymes, including serum alanine transaminase, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum albumin, and serum bilirubin, had significant relation amongst the dengue disease severity groups. The severity of hepatic impairment was also significantly related to the World Health Organization classification (P = 0.02).
Conclusion: Dengue fever severity can be predicted early by derangements in liver function tests as they statistically correlate with the severity of the disease.

How to cite this: Rehman W, Ali MZ, Arshad AR, Iqbal M, Karim N, Abbas M, Ahmed Z. Correlation Between Liver Function Test and Severity of Dengue Fever at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Rawalpindi. Life and Science. 2025; 6(1): 95-101. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.709