Publication:

Hepatic transaminases as predictors of liver injury in abdominal trauma

Background Our aim was to determine the usefulness of hepatic transaminases as hematological markers to predict the presence and severity of liver injury in adult patients with abdominal trauma.

Methods This is a retrospective study of patients admitted with abdominal trauma (blunt and penetrating) over a three-year period. Grading of liver injury was based on CT-scan or surgical findings. Patients in whom liver enzymes were estimated in the first 48 hours were included.

Results Out of the 66 patients in the study, 23 (63.89%) patients had minor liver injuries, while 13 (36.11%) had major liver injuries. Injury was blunt in 63 (95.45%) and penetrating in 3 (4.54%) patients. The mortality rate was 7.57% (n=5). The median SGOT and SGPT levels in the liver injury group were higher than those in the non-liver injury group SGOT (209LI vs. 43.5) U/L and SGPT (283.22 vs. 72.97) U/L, respectively, (p=0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve assessment, showed the optimum SGOT and SGPT thresholds to be >112.5 and >120.5U/L respectively, which were strongly associated with the presence of liver injuries. There was significant correlation between liver transaminases with grade of liver injury, SGOT (p=0.013) and SGPT (p=0.004).

Conclusions SGOT and SGPT values >112.5 and >120.5U/L respectively, are strongly suggestive of liver injury. Hepatic transaminases are useful screening hematological markers for liver injuries and should be included in the initial trauma blood test panel and may guide in the decision making especially in medical centers with limited facilities.