Liver Function Abnormalities Among Lassa Fever Patients, ARetrospective Cross-Sectional Study at A Tertiary Hospital in NorthEastern Nigeria
Keywords:
Lassa fever, liver function tests, transaminases;, AST, hypoalbuminemia, NigeriaAbstract
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness endemic in West Africa and is associated with
multisystem involvement, including hepatic dysfunction. However, data on the pattern of liver function abnormalities
among patients with Lassa fever in North-Eastern Nigeria remain limited. Objective: To determine the pattern of liver
function abnormalities among patients with confirmed Lassa fever managed at a tertiary hospital in North-Eastern
Nigeria. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analysed laboratory data from 173 RT-PCR-confirmed Lassa
fever patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in North-Eastern Nigeria. Sociodemographic characteristics and
biochemical parameters including AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, serum albumin, total protein and random blood glucose were
extracted from hospital records. Liver function abnormalities were defined using standard laboratory reference ranges.
Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically
significant. Results: Elevated AST was the most common biochemical abnormality, occurring in 74.7% of patients,
followed by elevated ALP (67.6%) and ALT (65.3%). Hypoalbuminemia was present in 55.5% of patients, while
hypoproteinaemia occurred in 25.4%. Hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia were observed in 16.8% and 15.6% of
patients, respectively. The median AST level (85 IU/L) exceeded the median ALT level (57 IU/L), demonstrating the
characteristic AST predominance observed in Lassa fever, consistent with both hepatic injury and multisystem tissue
involvement. Conclusion: Liver function abnormalities are common among patients with Lassa fever, with AST
elevation being the most frequent biochemical abnormality. Routine monitoring of liver function parameters is essential
for the clinical management of patients with Lassa fever and may provide useful information for patient monitoring and
risk stratification.
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