Abstract

Changes in liver enzymes and bilirubin in patients with thalassemia depend on genetic changes and the association of other genetic determinants. Iron overload is associated with increased morbidity in both transfusion-dependent and non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients. The main objective was to evaluate hepatic enzymes, bilirubin and plasma proteins in βTM patients and also to study the correlations of these parameters with serum hemoglobin and ferritin concentrations in βTM patients. To achieve this goal, the study was directed on two groups, the first is case group includes 39 patients with βTM and the second control group includes 34 subject. Serum ALT, AST, total bilirubin, albumin and total protein concentrations were measured by UV-Vis Spectrophotometer, while the concentration of serum ferritin was measured by ELISA Kit. Our results showed that there are highly significant differences between beta thalassemia major and ferritin at mean (2942.71) , furthermore there are highly significant differences between beta thalassemia major and liver enzymes at (71.98) for AST , (69.42) for ALT, (6.98) for Total protein, (3.92) for Albumin and (2.32) for Total bilirubin. In addition our findings showed there are Correlations between serum ferritin concentrations and liver function testes in βTM patients, where there are highly significant differences between beta thalassemia major and Alanine transaminase at mean (r = 0.44), while the Correlation between serum hemoglobin concentration and liver function testes showed highly significant differences between beta thalassemia major and aspartate aminotransferase at mean (r = 0.52). The study concluded that the increase in serum liver enzymes (ALT, AST) and total bilirubin concentrations in patients with βTM are indicator to liver dysfunction that is correlated to iron overload.

Key words: β-thalassemia major, Hepatic enzymes, Bilirubin, Plasma proteins and iron over load