ASSESSMENT OF LIVER ENZYME ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE (ALT) AND ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE (AST) IN DENGUE-INFECTED PATIENTS IN FAISALABAD, PUNJAB PAKISTAN IN 2026.

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted in 2026 in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan, to assess liver functional abnormalities in dengue patients by estimation of serum ALT and AST levels. The total number of serologically confirmed dengue cases included was 200, of which 120 (60%) cases were diagnosed as Dengue Fever and 80 (40%) cases as Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever. There were 115 females (57.5%) and 85 males (42.5) in the study population ranging from 15 years to 50 years of age, while the 21-25 years age group had the highest prevalence of the disease (20.5%). The blood samples collected at the time of diagnosis were used to confirm Dengue infection by NS1 antigen, IgM and IgG. ALT and AST levels were measured. The results showed that the values of ALT and AST had significant increase in all dengue positive cases as compared to normal range (40U/L) which showed there was significant liver involvement. Mean ALT levels were significantly higher in DHF patients (356.43 ± 85.29 U/L) than in DF patients (182.79 ± 56.98 U/L) (p < 0.001), while AST levels were also markedly elevated in DHF patients (500.81 ± 105.21 U/L) compared with DF patients (261.06 ± 72.85 U/L) (p < 0.001). Pearson correlation showed there was a strong positive correlation between ALT and AST levels (r = 0.631, p < 0.001), indicating that both enzymes raise concurrently in the presence of dengue infection. In addition, AST levels were higher than ALT levels in most patients, and 19.5% of patients had an AST/ALT ratio less than one reflecting predominant mitochondrial hepatic injury. The results show that there is significant liver damage after dengue virus infection, and that the liver damage is more extensive in DHF patients. Therefore, periodic monitoring of ALT and AST levels can be a practical and cost-effective method to assess liver injury and disease severity in dengue patients in Faisalabad.