Degree of liver injury in Dengue virus infection

This study evaluated the degree of liver damage during an extensive Dengue Virusepidemic in Port Sudan, Sudan, extending from July to December 2009. In 633 confirmed Dengue cases, the degree of hepatic injury was assessed as follows: Grade 0 - normal levels of liver enzymes; Grade 1 - mild elevation in the liver enzymes, not exceeding the double of the reference value; Grade 2 - elevated liver enzymes, with the levels of the enzymes increased to more than three times the reference values; Grade 3 - acute hepatitis, with liver enzymes levels increased to at least 10 times their normal values; Grade 4 - evidence of hepatic failure (high prothrombin time) or renal involvement (high creatinin). It was observed that 63.8% of Grade 1, 17.9% of Grade 2, 3.9% of Grade 3 and 1.1% of Grade 4 had liver damage. In this study, the severe degree of liver injury existed with the presence of the complications. So an aspartate aminotransferase(AST), at least, should be done regularly in the follow up of Dengue patients.   Key words: Dengue virus, hepatitis, liver failure, Port Sudan