A Survey on the Fluctuations of Liver Enzymes in Severely Dehydrated Children with Acute Gastroenteritis

Background: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a potential life-threatening condition in young children. Objectives: Our aim was to assess hepatic enzymes levels in children with AGE and severe dehydration (> 10%). Methods: We enrolled 138 children with AGE admitted to the Amir-Al-Momenin Hospital of Zabol city in 2016. Children with severe dehydration (> 10%), according to the Vesikari score, were included. Complete blood count, selected inflammatory markers, and hepatic enzymes were investigated. Results: Males and females comprised 89 (64.5%) and 49 (35.5%) of the cases, respectively. The mean age was 3 ± 2.7 years old. Concomitant aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation and isolated AST elevation were observed in 22 (15.9%) and 60 (43.5%) of the patients, respectively. Normal AST and ALT levels were observed in 56 (40.6%) of the patients. The AST level significantly correlated with age (r = -0.230, P = 0.007) and platelet count (r = 0.184, P =0.03). Significant correlations were also detected between ALT level and age (r = -0.230, P = 0.007), ESR (r = -0.240, P = 0.03), and K+ level (r = 0.244, P = 0.03). Conclusions: Our results highlighted relatively high frequency of elevated liver enzymes in severely dehydrated children with AGE.