Association between Pyridoxal-5'-Phosphate Levels, Liver Homogenates and Serum Activities of Aminotransferases and De Ritis Ratio amongst Alcoholic Hepatitis Patients
Forwah Jacques Ndeh *
Chemical Pathology Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria.
Ebot Walter Ojong
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, South West Region, Cameroon.
Uwem Okon Akpan
Chemical Pathology Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria.
Immaculate Ihuoma Ekeagba
WORCACCCE Group Integrated Healthcare Sciences, Technological Training and Innovative Research Foundation (WGIHSTTAIRF), P.O.Box 45 Bamenda, North West Region, Cameroon.
Mohmbashagle Ngangnchi Smella
Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, South West Region, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: The current study assessed the association between Pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) levels, liver and serum activities of aminotransferases (ALT and AST) and De Ritis ratio (DRR) in ten subjects with alcoholic hepatitis (test group -TG) and 10 healthy subjects without alcoholic hepatitis (control group-CG) with mean age of 41 years of both genders who were attending the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.
Study Design: The current study was a randomized experimental designed work.
Place and Duration of Study: The study carried out in Chemical Pathology Unit, Department of Medical Lab Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria between December 2014 and December 2016.
Methodology: Appropriate samples were collected from both TG and CG after 8-10 hours fasting and treated using standard procedures. PLP was determined by techniques of Lumeng and co-workers, 1981 (reagents from New England Nuclear, Massachusetts, USA). Hepatic protein levels and aminotransferase activities were determined by spectrophotometric methods, (reagents from Sigma- Aldrich Company, USA). Liver biopsy specimens were obtained with a Klatskin needle for histology.
Results: Before PLP supplementation of liver homogenates a significant decreased in PLP levels, increased liver ALT and decreased AST activities were observed in test group. After one month of pyridoxine supplementation, there was a significant increase (p<0.02) in plasma PLP level in all groups with decreased serum AST and increased serum ALT activities ,while liver ALT and AST activities increased significantly (p<0.005) resulting to a decrease serum DRR (p<0.001) in test group.
Conclusion: PLP depletion may be partially responsible for the low serum DRR which is reputed to be a typical potent, non-invasive, economical and dynamic prognostic biomarker of alcoholic hepatitis.
Keywords: Association, Pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, activities of aminotransferases, De Ritis ratio, alcohol hepatitis.