DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjm.2026.v12i04.008

Pages: 274-279

Background: Prompt identification of the progression to severe dengue, utilizing straightforward and quantifiable tests, is essential for guiding appropriate supportive treatment. This study sought to evaluate whether aminotransferase levels could serve as a predictive marker for disease severity in dengue patients. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted within a hospital setting, involving 70 patients admitted to the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute. Dengue diagnoses were established by detecting NS1 antigen between days 2 and 3, and/or IgM antibody positivity between days 6 and 10. Serum aminotransferase levels were quantified upon patient admission to evaluate the severity of the dengue infection. Results: The mean age was 5.5 ± 4.02 years, with 42.9% of patients aged between 1 and 5 years, and a male majority (62.9%). Dengue shock syndrome manifested in 28.6% of the patients. The average SGOT level (85.71 ± 67.80) was higher than the average SGPT level (58.27 ± 51.22). Notably, the mean SGOT level was significantly elevated in dengue shock syndrome cases (129.73 ± 97.42 U/L) compared to other dengue classifications (p = 0.004). Similarly, the mean SGPT level was also significantly higher in patients with dengue shock syndrome (101.58 ± 75.20 U/L) than in those with other forms of dengue fever (p < 0.001). A direct correlation was observed between SGOT levels and disease severity, indicated by a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.394 and a p-value of 0.001. Conclusion: The findings suggest that hepatic dysfunction is a frequent occurrence in dengue fever. An early elevation in transaminase levels can therefore assist in predicting the severity of the illness. This predictive capability is valuable for facilitating close monitoring of patients prone to developing severe forms of dengue and for enabling the timely initiation of appropriate therapeutic interventions.