Correlation of Small Dense Low Density Lipoprotein, Tumour Necrosis Factor - alpha with Liver Enzymes in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

Aim: This study investigated the relationship between small dense low density lipoprotein (sdLDL), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Duration of Study: June 2018- March 2019.

Subjects and Methods: Sixty (60) participants were recruited for this cross sectional study. They comprised thirty (30) clinically diagnosed chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected patients attending clinic at a tertiary hospital in Osogbo, Osun state, Nigeria. Thirty (30) apparently healthy volunteers were recruited as control subjects after fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Anthropometric measurements were performed using standard method. About 6mL of venous blood was collected from each study participant, serum was extracted and kept at -80oC until time of analysis. Small dense LDL, TNF-α, AST, ALT and ALP were determined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and colorimetric method as appropriate. Data analysis was done using Student’s t-test for comparison of variables and Pearson’s correlation was used to determine the relationship between variables. P–value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: SdLDL, TNF-α, AST and ALT were significantly elevated in HBV patients when compared with the control subjects (P<0.05). SdLDL had a significant positive correlation with TNF-α (P=0.03), AST (P=0.01), ALT (P=0.00). TNF-α had a significant positive correlation with AST (P=0.02) and ALT (P=0.00).

Conclusion: This study revealed a noteworthy positive relationship between sdLDL, TNF-α and hepatic aminotransferases in chronic hepatitis B patients.