Assessment of Liver Enzymes in Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Ikere-Ekiti

Abstract

Pregnancy is a physiological condition which brings about changes in different systems of the body to support the growing foetus in the uterus. This study was designed to evaluate some of the liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and GGT) activities in the different trimesters of pregnancy. A total of 120 subjects consisting of ninety [90] pregnant women at different trimesters thirty [30] and apparently healthy non-pregnant women (control) in Ikere-Ekiti [30] were recruited for this study. Blood samples were collected from the subjects after obtaining their consents. Liver function enzymes assay were determined using kinetic methods. Data analysis was done using SPSS computer software version 21.0 and results were presented in tables and figures as mean ± standard deviation. The result showed that the mean AST of non-pregnant women (control), pregnant women in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters were 3.44±1.88, 12.60±5.34, 10.20±4.93 and 8.67±3.37 (IU/L) respectively. The mean ALT of non-pregnant women (control), pregnant women in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters were 3.27±1.75, 14.56±8.71, 11.46±6.08 and 9.33±6.34 (IU/L) respectively. The mean GGT of non-pregnant women (control), pregnant women in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters was 3.60±1.88, 15.14±9.11, 13.22±5.27 and 10.35±7.19 (IU/L) respectively. The mean ALP of non-pregnant women (control), pregnant women in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters was 24.63±10.84, 58.73±24.71, 69.55±25.13 and 82.31±35.69 (IU/L) respectively. The study concludes that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the mean ALT, AST and GGT of pregnant women (subjects) in the three trimesters compared to non-pregnant women (control). However, there was significant difference (p<0.05) in the ALP of pregnant women in the 3rd trimester compared to non-pregnant women (control). Liver function tests are important biomedical indicators that reflect any changes in an adult person, and should be routinely investigated during pregnancy to outline any pathologic changes.