Serum Biomarkers in Sudanese Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

• Published in: International journal of biomedicine Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 520 - 523
• Main Authors: Abdelgadir Alamin Altoum, Sofiyat Zayyad, Ibrahim Yousef, Zulekha Shemote
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Medical Research and Development Corporation 01-09-2024
• Subjects: alpha-fetoprotein; liver enzymes; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; triglycerides
• ISSN: 2158-0510; 2158-0529
• DOI: 10.21103/Article14(3)_ShC

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disorder. Its pathogenesis is multifactorial, and different pathogenic mechanisms cause differences in its course and outcomes at different clinical stages. This study evaluated serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), lipids, and liver enzymes in Sudanese patients with NAFLD. Methods and Results: This study was conducted at the Advance Diagnostic Center, Bihari Hospital, Khartoum State, Sudan, from September 2021 to November 2022. A total of 80 participants (56 women and 24 men) were divided into two groups: The study group included 40 patients diagnosed with NAFLD, and the control group comprised 40 healthy individuals. All patients underwent an ultrasound examination. The serum levels of AST, ALT, triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) were measured using a spectrophotometric method, while AFP levels were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our study revealed a significant increase in the levels of AST, ALT, TG, and AFP in NAFLD patients compared to the control group (P<0.01 in all cases); however, TC levels were not statistically different (P=0.629). Changes in the studied markers did not depend on gender. The correlation analysis showed a moderate positive correlation between TG and AFP (r=0.527, P=0.000) and a weak negative correlation between age and AFP (r=-0.316, P=0.047). The relationship between TC and AFP was statistically insignificant (r=0.246, P=0.126). Conclusion: Patients with NAFLD exhibit elevated levels of AFP and TG compared to individuals without fatty liver changes. A statistically significant positive correlation between TG and AFP indicates the complexity of the NAFLD pathogenesis.