LIVER ENZYMES IN NORMAL AND SICKLE CELL SUBJECTS

Abstract

The activity of the liver enzymes, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were compared in serum samples obtained from normal (HbAA), heterozygous (HbAS), and homozygous (HbSS) blood. The enzyme activities (measured in international units, IU per litre) for normal subjects were 8.0 ± 4.0, 11.0 ± 5.0 and 56.0 ± 43.0 respectively for ALT, AST and ALP. While those for sickle cell subjects were 18.0 ± 9.0, 24.0 ± 12.0 and 151.0 ± 21.0 respectively for ALT, AST and ALP. The activities of these were compared during sickle cell crisis and in steady state. Results show that enzyme activities increased during painful crisis. The difference in activities of the enzyme in HbAA and HbAS blood was not statistically significant (p?0.05). ALP showed the highest activity in both normal and sickle cell conditions. In normal and sickle blood, the order of activity of the enzymes was ALP>AST>ALT. ALT, AST and ALP activities of sickle blood ranged from 125 to 135% of the normal.

Keywords: alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phospatase, genotype, heterozygous, homozygous, sickle cell, anaemia.