We investigated variation in serum lipid peroxides (LPO)
concentrations in relation to various clinical entities of liver diseases in
children. Serum lipid peroxides were determined in 20 children with acute
hepatitis, 14 with chronic hepatitis (4 chronic active and 10 chronic
persistent hepatitis), 11 with liver cirrhosis, 7 with cholestasis and 20
children apparently healthy represented as a control group. Serum lipid
peroxides levels were significantly (p < 0.001) increased in all patients
groups when compared with the control group. Moreover, in patient group
with acute hepatitis, it was significantly (p < 0.001) increased when
compared with other patient groups, while there was no significant
difference obtained between other groups of liver diseases. A significant
correlation was found between serum lipid peroxides and a set of indices
of hepatic function (serum total bilirubin "r = 0.616, p <0.05", serum
direct bilirubin "r = 0.519, p < 0.05", ALT "r = 0.488, p = <0.05" and
AST "r = 0.480, p < 0.05"). No significant correlation was obtained with
other liver function (Alk. Ph. "r = 0.212, p > 0.05", GOT "r = 0.252,
p > 0.05", serum proteins "r = 0.119, p > 0.05" or albumin "r = -0.111,
p >0.05". In conclusion, serum levels of LPO increased in different groups
of liver diseases especially acute hepatitis. It can be used as a marker for the intensity of inflammation rather than differentiation between different
entities of liver disease. |
