Lipid profile in acute viral hepatitis: A study from north eastern India

Abstract

Background: Acute viral hepatitis is associated with significant hepatic dysfunction including lipid metabolism. Variations in the serum lipid fractions in acute viral hepatitis due to hepatic injury may serve as prognostic marker for severity of hepat ic injury. Methods: Hospital-based prospective study on acute viral hepatitis. Fifty cases of acute viral hepatitis and 50 age and sex matched controls, (>18 years) were studied. Routine biochemical investigation, hepatotropic viral serology and fasting serum lipid fractions were analysed for changes in patients with acute viral hepatitis. Chi-square test was used for comparing variables. A 'p value' <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Baseline parameters were similar between cases and controls (p>0.05). Jaundice (100%) and high coloured urine (100%) were the commonest presentations. Hepatitis A virus (52%) and Hepatitis E virus (30%) were commonest aetiological agents. Serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL) were significantly higher (p<0.01) while high density lipoprotein (HDL) was significantly lower (p<0.01) in acute viral hepatitis compared to controls. There was no statistically significant difference in the levels of very LDL between cases and controls (p>0.05). Complications were seen in 7 (14%) cases with hepatic encephalopathy being the commonest (6%). Serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL were significantly higher and HDL was significantly lower in hepatitis with complications compared to uncomplicated hepatitis (p<0.01). Conclusion Acute viral hepatitis leads to significant alterations of serum lipid fractions which may serve as an indicator of severity of liver damage and be helpful in assessing the prognosis of patients with acute viral hepatitis.

Assessment of Correlation Between Acute Viral Hepatitis and Serum Lipid Levels

“…Mean total cholesterol level in our study during acute phase of viral hepatitis, was 169.700± 33.225 mg/dl, whereas it was 228.84 ± 31.34 mg/dl in the Bhattacharya [6] study and 148.36±42.26 mg/dl in the Abbas al-Tamimi [5] study. Among the controls mean total cholesterol was 202.430 ± 31.313 mg/dl in our study whereas it was 90.68 ± 24.19 mg/dl in the Bhattacharya study [6] and 215.34±75.85 mg/dl in the Abbas al-Tamimi [5] study. In our study, mean total cholesterol was lower in acute phase of viral hepatitis, which was same as in Abbas al-Tamimi [5] study.…”

“…The mean age in cases was 25.68 years while in controls it was 24.2 years ( Table 5). In our study, out of 30 cases, 73% cases were male, while 27% were female, while in Bhattacharya [6] study 48% cases were male, and 52% cases were female.…”

“…In our study, mean total cholesterol was lower in acute phase of viral hepatitis, which was same as in Abbas al-Tamimi [5] study. While in Bhattacharya [6] study mean total cholesterol was higher in acute phase. Mean serum total cholesterol level in complicated cases was 160.25 ± 10.210 mg/dl which was lower than uncomplicated cases, contrary to the Bhattacharya et al [6] study.…”

“…There was no splenomegaly in any cases. Most common symptoms in Bhattacharya et al [6] were jaundice and yellow coloured urine -were present in all (100%) cases followed by anorexia in 90% cases, hepatomegaly in 72% cases, nausea/vomiting and fever in 70% cases, abdomen pain in 30% cases and pruritus in 20% cases (Table 4).…”

“…In a study by Abbas al-Tamimi et al, [5] total number of cases were 63 and the mean age in cases was 30.3 years and in controls it was 36.16 years which can be compared to our study. In the Bhattacharya et al [6] study, total 100 subjects were studied (50 cases, 50 controls). The mean age in cases was 25.68 years while in controls it was 24.2 years ( Table 5).…”