Evaluation of the Serum Liver Enzymes Markers, Lipid Profile and Kidney Function Parameters in Typhoid Patients

Aim: Typhoid fever is a life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi occurring frequently in underdeveloped regions of the world due to overcrowding and poor sanitation. However, the biochemical changes induced by typhoid fever have not been fully understood as a guide to finding a possible counter measure to combating the disease. The study was designed to determine the biochemical changes associated with typhoid disease.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria, in the year 2014.
Methods: The study evaluated kidney electrolyte, lipid profile, liver marker enzymes in the serum of typhoid patients. 140 subjects were recruited for this study, 70 of which were normal individual control group and 70 individual with typhoid test group with age range of 18 to 28 years. Blood samples were analyzed to determine the lipid profile, kidney function and liver enzyme concentration spectrophotometrically.
Results: Urea and creatinine concentration in typhoid patients significantly increased (P = .05) when compared with the control group. Sodium ion, potassium ion, chloride ion and bicarbonate ion significantly decreased (P = .05) when compared to the control group. Result for liver function test revealed a significant increase in the concentration of AST, ALT and ALP in test group. HDL, LDL, Cholesterol, triacyglycerols and VLDL concentration significantly increased (P = .05) in typhoid patients when compared with normal individuals. Concentration of total protein, albumin, globulin significant decrease (P = .05) in test group when compared with the control group.
Conclusion: The study gave a clear indication of the changes induced by typhoid fever in humans. This study also revealed some physiological and biochemical conditions in typhoid patients that varies from normal individual, which explains the influence of typhoid morbidity.