PREVALENCE OF ELEVATED SERUM TRANSAMINASE LEVELS IN SOUTH INDIAN TYPE 2 DIABETES INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

*Dr. R. Anil Kumar and Dr. Baburajendra B. Naik

ABSTRACT

Objective: To find out the prevalence of elevations of serum transaminase levels in south Indian type 2 diabetes individuals and associated risk factors. Research design and methods: 403 type 2 diabetes subjects were randomly selected, 203 from Karnataka institute of endocrinology and research an urban diabetic centre and 200 from Bagalkot rural diabetic centre. BMI and waist circumference were measured. A fasting and post prandial blood sample was drawn for estimation of plasma glucose by hexokinase method. HBA1C was measured by the high-performance liquid chromatography method using the Bio-rad Variant 2 turbo analyzer. Diagnosis of diabetes was made by using ADA criteria of fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dl and HBA1c ≥6.5%. Liver function tests and lipid profile were analyzed in cobot C 311 biochemistry analyzer by standard methods. Results: Age distribution-18 to 90 years. Male diabetes subjects were 64.8%. Duration of diabetes range from new to >10 years. BMI range from <18.5 to >30 kg/square meters. Waist circumference range from <80 cms to >100 cms. AST was more than 31 units/L in 26.1% (105) and ALT was more than 30 units/L in 22.8% (92) of the type 2 diabetes individuals studied. Elevated ALT was found to have a statistically significant association with increasing waist circumference, increased fasting and post prandial glucose, increased triglycerides, total and direct bilirubin levels. Elevated AST was found to have a statistically significant association with increased LDL, TG, total and direct bilirubin levels. Conclusions: AST was more than 31 units/L in 26.1% (105) and ALT was more than 22.8% (92) of the type 2 diabetes individuals studied. Elevated ALT was found to have a statistically significant association with increasing waist circumference, fasting and post prandial glucose, triglycerides, total and direct bilirubin levels. Marginal elevation of ALT levels can be used as a marker to suspect NAFLD in type 2 diabetes.

Keywords: AST, ALT, Triglyceride, liver function.