Abstract
Liver function tests (LFTs) are commonly deranged in diabetic patients. There is, however, paucity of local data on actual prevalence and pattern of LFTs abnormality among diabetic patients. A case – control study was carried out to study the pattern of LFTs abnormality among patients with type 2 diabetes (DM). Ninety consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes attending Medical Outpatient Clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, and 90 non-diabetic controls with comparable age and sex were recruited into the study. Serum albumin, alanine amino transferase (ALT) and Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were tested in all subjects. Data were analyzed using Student’s t-test, chi-square test and Mann – Whitney U. Among the diabetic patients, 70% had at least one deranged LFTs. The ALT and GGT values were significantly higher (52.9 IU/L and 24.3U/L respectively) in the diabetic group compared to the controls (34.4IU/L and 9.2U/L respectively). Also, the most predominant LFT abnormality in diabetic group was isolated elevation of GGT. This study has confirmed the reported common derangement of LFTs in patients with type 2 DM. In addition, isolated elevation of GGT and ALT are common in Nigerian type 2 diabetic patients. There is need for further study to determine the significance of high GGT and ALT in Nigerian type 2 diabetic population.
Keywords: Gamma glutamyl transferase, Alanine aminotransferase, type 2 diabetes, Nigerian patients
Résumé
Les tests de fonctions hépatiques sont très souvent perturbés chez les patients diabétiques. Il y a une rareté des données locales sur la prévalence et la fréquence actuelle de ces anomalies chez ces
patients. Cette étude était faite pour déterminer la frequence des anomalies des tests hépatiques parmi les patients ayant le diabète de type II. Quatre vingt dix patients consécutif ayant ce type de diabète en clinique au centre universitaire hospitalier, Ibadan et 90 non-diabetique (contrôle sain) de même age et sexe étaient recrutés. Les tests des taux de sérum d’albumine, d’alaline-amino transférase (ALT) et Gamma glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) étaient déterminés chez ces sujets. Les données étaient analysées utilisant les tests t, chi square et Mann Whitney U. Parmi les diabétiques, 70 % avaient au moins une perturbation des tests hépatiques. Les valeurs des taux d’ALT et GGT étaient significativement plus élevés comparés aux contrôle sain. L’anomalie la plus prédominante du LTF chez les diabétiques étaient une élévation isolée en GGT. Cette étude réaffirme les perturbations enregistres et rapportés des tests hépatiques chez les patients diabétiques de type II. En plus, l’élévation isolée du GGT et ALT sont commun chez les Nigérian diabétique de type II. Il serait nécessaire de faire d’études approfondies pour déterminer l’importance des taux élevés du GGT et ALT chez cette population.
Correspondence: Dr. Williams O. Balogun, Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
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