Clinical and Enzymatic Evaluation of Liver Function in Patients with Chronic HBV Infection

This study aimed to assess clinical and enzyme variation in
hepatitis B virus (HBV)- related liver function in chronically infected patients
by comparing findings with those of a control group of healthy individuals.
A total of 60 patients, 30 having chronic HBV and 30 healthy individuals as
a control group, were sampled. The methodology involved collecting clinical
information through direct patient interviews, focusing on typical symptoms
such as fatigue, loss of appetite, jaundice, and upper right quadrant
abdominal pain. Physical examination was also performed to assess liver size
and determine whether there was fibrosis or hepatomegaly. The automated
analyses from the Mindray BS-240 were subsequently used in the laboratory
to measure liver enzymes, including ALT, AST, ALP, and GGT. Also, levels
of total and direct bilirubin, as well as total protein and albumin, were
determined. HBsAg testing was also performed on all samples to confirm
chronic infection. Medical interviews of the patients provided clinical data,
with general fatigue (83.3%), loss of appetite (70%), jaundice (40%), and
upper right quadrant pain as the most noticeable symptoms. Also, 60% of
cases were characterised by hepatomegaly, suggesting that the virus directly
affected overall health and liver function. As for laboratory tests, liver
enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT) were significantly increased in the patient
group, with highly significant differences (P < 0.001). For example, the
average ALT level of the patients was 85.4 ± 22.7 U/L, compared with 28.1 ±
6.5 U/L in the control group. In addition, total and direct bilirubin were
markedly elevated, whereas albumin and total protein were decreased,
indicating impaired hepatic synthetic function. This study confirms the fact
that chronic HBV causes a number of liver function disturbances, which are
evident and reflected both in clinical manifestations and in laboratory results.
Regular evaluation of these signs is very important to prevent the
development of disease and complications such as fibrosis or even liver
cancer. The study also recommends extending routine screening in areas
with a high prevalence of infection, improving health awareness campaigns,
and promoting early diagnosis as an essential pillar of management and
surveillance for this disease.