Association of the changes in hepatic enzymes, bilirubin, and plasma proteins with beta-thalassemia in iron over loaded-patients

Changes in liver enzymes and bilirubin in patients with thalassemia depend on genetic changes and the association of other genetic determinants. Iron overload is associated with increased morbidity in both transfusion-dependent and non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients. The main objective was to evaluate hepatic enzymes, bilirubin, and plasma proteins in beta-thalassemia major (βTM) patients and to study the correlations of these parameters with serum hemoglobin and ferritin concentrations in βTM patients. To achieve these, the study had two groups, the first is case group includes 39 patients with βTM and the second control group includes 34 subjects. Serum ALT, AST, total bilirubin, albumin, and total protein concentrations were measured by UV-Vis spectrophotometer, while the concentration of serum ferritin was measured by ELISA Kit. Our results showed that there were highly significant differences between βTM and ferritin, furthermore, there were highly significant differences between βTM and liver enzymes such as AST, ALT, total protein, albumin, and total bilirubin. In addition, our findings showed that there was correlation between serum ferritin concentrations and liver function parameters in βTM patients, where there are highly significant differences between βTM and ALT, while the correlation between serum hemoglobin concentration and liver function parameters showed highly significant differences between βTM and AST. The study concluded that the increase in serum liver enzymes (ALT, AST) and total bilirubin concentrations in patients with βTM are indicator to liver dysfunction that is correlated to iron overload.