DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i01.017

Pages: 89-92

Malaria is one of the most serious diseases especially of the tropical world. Pathophysiological process involves both centrilobular liver damage and red blood cells destruction. As a result, enzymes present in these cells are released into circulation. The present study was undertaken to determine the diagnostic value of serum Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT) - Liver function biomarkers and LDH, Acid Phosphatase (ACP) - RBC function biomarkers, in patients with acute uncomplicated malarial infection. The study group consisted of 130 subjects, of age groups 20-50 years and of both sexes. Of these, 50 had vivax malaria, 30 had falciparum malaria and 50 were healthy individuals as controls. They were confirmed to be positive for Plasmodium Vivax/ Falciparum parasite by microscopical examination of Giemsa stained blood slides. Results showed that the serum levels of all enzymes are elevated in both vivax & falciparum malaria patients when compared to controls. The increase in ACP, ALP, ALT, AST is statistically significant (p<0.05) while increase in LDH is statistically highly significant (p<0.001) in vivax malarial patients. Also, the increase in ALP, ALT, AST is statistically significant (p<0.05) while increase in ACP, LDH is statistically highly significant (p<0.001). Hence, serum enzymes can be utilized extensively for both definitive and supportive diagnosis of Malaria in clinical scenario.