Liver Function Profiles in Saudi Nationals with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Liver function tests were investigated in Saudi patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and compared with the results obtained in a group of age and sex matched ontrols. The results showed that the mean for total protein and total bilirubin were not statistically different in the patient and the control group. However, albumin, A/G ratio and cholesterol were significantly lower, while globulins, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), and alkaline phosphatase were significantly elevated. Hypoalbuminemia was the most frequent abnormality and was encountered in 65.6% of these patients. This paper present our findings and discusses the results in the light of the studies reported in literature.