Liver injury in patients with typhoid fever

Abstract

We examined liver function tests in fourteen patients with typhoid fever, and liver histology from two of these patients.
By clinical presentation, all patients were anicteric and five patients were noted to have mild hepatomegaly. In liver function tests, serum transaminase levels were mildly or moderately elevated in eleven patients (78.3%). SGOT levels were higher than SGPT levels in almost all patients. Serum LDH levels were elevated in eleven patients and serum total cholesterol levels were reduced in six patients.
In one patient, the liver histology showed mononuclear cell infiltration in portal tracts, liver cell focal necrosis, and hyperplasia of Kupffer cells. This resembled non-specific, reactive hepatitis. In the second patient, the liver histology showed mild, fatty degeneration of liver cells.
SGOT, SGPT, SLDH, and total serum cholesterol returned to normal elevels in two to three weeks after chemotherapy.