Effect of Malaria Parasitaemia on Liver Enzyme Tests

The activities of the liver enzymes-aspartate and alanine transaminases and alkaline phosphatase were investigated in 90 individuals comprising both sexes. Their malaria parasite status and malaria parasite densities were also determined. Sixty individuals served as test subjects, whereas 30 apparently healthy individuals were used as control subjects. The results showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in the mean activities of these enzymes in malaria parasite positive subjects when compared with the controls. There was a positive correlation between the enzyme activities and the degree of parasitaemia (p<0.0001), whereas comparison drawn between the male and female controls showed no significant difference (p>0.05). When the male test subjects were compared with the female test subjects, there was a significant difference (p<0.05). The results suggest that liver enzymes increase in malaria parasitaemia to a level dependent on the degree of parasitaemia and also suggest that the liver is involved in the pathophysiology of malaria.