TY - JOUR
T1 - Blunt abdominal injury
T2 - Serum ALT-A marker of liver injury and a guide to assessment of its severity
AU - Srivastava, Aseem Ranjan
AU - Kumar, Sandeep
AU - Agarwal, G. G.
AU - Ranjan, Priyadarshi
PY - 2007/9
Y1 - 2007/9
N2 - Background: Elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as a marker for diagnosis, and assessment of severity in patients with blunt hepatic injuries are hitherto un-described or casually mentioned in literature. Methods: Prospective observational study of all patients admitted with blunt abdominal trauma accrued between May 2002 and December 2003. Upon admission, vital parameters were recorded and blood samples were drawn for haemogram and serum ALT (SGPT) levels. Patients were further evaluated with USG, CT scan or underwent a laparotomy. Results: Of the 122 patients with blunt abdominal injury, 32 had raised ALT, among these 31 had liver injury. No patient with a normal ALT had hepatic injury. Five patients with a significantly raised ALT and negative USG had liver injury. Patients with modestly raised ALT, mostly resolved on non-operative treatment, whereas, patients with more marked rise had more serious hepatic injuries, more complications, greater transfusion requirement, and higher death rates. Conclusion: This observational cohort study strongly suggests that raised serum ALT is a sensitive diagnostic marker for blunt liver injury and its levels may assist with prognosis and guide management.
AB - Background: Elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as a marker for diagnosis, and assessment of severity in patients with blunt hepatic injuries are hitherto un-described or casually mentioned in literature. Methods: Prospective observational study of all patients admitted with blunt abdominal trauma accrued between May 2002 and December 2003. Upon admission, vital parameters were recorded and blood samples were drawn for haemogram and serum ALT (SGPT) levels. Patients were further evaluated with USG, CT scan or underwent a laparotomy. Results: Of the 122 patients with blunt abdominal injury, 32 had raised ALT, among these 31 had liver injury. No patient with a normal ALT had hepatic injury. Five patients with a significantly raised ALT and negative USG had liver injury. Patients with modestly raised ALT, mostly resolved on non-operative treatment, whereas, patients with more marked rise had more serious hepatic injuries, more complications, greater transfusion requirement, and higher death rates. Conclusion: This observational cohort study strongly suggests that raised serum ALT is a sensitive diagnostic marker for blunt liver injury and its levels may assist with prognosis and guide management.
KW - Blunt hepatic injury
KW - Blunt liver injury
KW - Serum ALT
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34547957639&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.injury.2007.04.019
DO - 10.1016/j.injury.2007.04.019
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C2 - 17686485
AN - SCOPUS:34547957639
SN - 0020-1383
VL - 38
SP - 1069
EP - 1074
JO - Injury
JF - Injury
IS - 9
ER -