ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to evaluate the liver function status of patients with malaria in different stages of parasitaemia. The study group consisted of patients attending the General Practice Clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, with varying degrees of malaria parasitaemia. Blood samples were obtained from volunteers and assays of liver function parameters were carried out. The results showed significant elevation in the activities of alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase (p < 0.05) with increase in the degree of parasitaemia and was positively correlated (r = 0.268 and 0.228 respectively). An inverse relationship was observed for the activity of alanine aminotransferase and bilirubin (r = -0.114 and -0.358, respectively). Total protein levels reduced significantly from mild to moderate (p < 0.05) and then increased significantly (p < 0.05) in severe parasitaemia. A positive correlation (r = 0.032) between total protein level and malaria parasitaemia was observed. The results obtained at different stages of parasitaemia suggest some degree of liver dysfunction during malaria infection.