Original Research Article

Malaria Parasitaemia and Effect on Liver Enzymes

Roseanne Adah Okafor^1*, Felix Eedee Konne², Clement Ugochukwu Nyenke¹, Benjamin Nnamdi Okolonkwo¹ and Chukwubike Udoka Okeke³

¹Department of Medical Laboratory Science, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
²Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
³Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, School of Health Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author's E-mail: aokafor@pums.edu.ng

Received: 18 July 2022  I  Accepted: 23 August 2022  I  Published: 29 August 2022  I  Article ID: MRJBM22013
Copyright © 2022 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.
This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0.

Abstract

Malaria is one parasite that is responsible for fever in tropical countries. The genus plasmodium is an obligate intra-erythrocyticprotozoa which causes malaria. Malarial involvement with liver is now a known case with its specific biochemical aberrations. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of density of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia on serum liver enzymes. It was a cross sectional study of One thousand (1000) children comprising of Six hundred and ninety four (694) children with malaria taken as the test group while 306 children that had no malaria were regarded as the control group. Blood samples were collected from them and examined for malaria and Liver enzymes such as ALT, ALP and GGT. The data obtained from the study were analyzed using GraphPad Prism Version 8.0.2.263. Result gotten from the study showed that the levels of the liver enzymes reduces as the parasite density increases from moderate to high. Post hoc analysis also showed a significant difference in the levels of ALT and ALP but no significant difference in the level of GGT. This study has demonstrated that higher density of plasmodium could bring about reduction in the levels of liver enzymes. It is therefore recommended that liver function test be carried out in chronic malaria infestation to aid effective treatment.

Keywords: Malaria, Plasmodium, Liver enzymes