Umbilical Cord Blood Plasmodium falciparum Infection on Alkaline Phosphatase Activity, Serum Liver Enzymes and Blood Chemistry of Neonates

摘要

This study reports the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), liver enzymes, nutrient markers and some biochemical indices in umbilical cord infected with and without P. falciparum.The activities of ALP, aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT), as well as levels of serum urea, creatinine and triglyceride were assayed, The P. falciparum diagnosis was done using Giemsa stain technique.Results obtained show that ALP activity was significantly higher (P<0.05) in malaria infected cord blood (44.21±4.49) when compared with cord blood not infected by P. falciparum (26.29±11.54 U/l), that ALP has a relationship with Cord nutrients, a negative correlation with birth weight (r= - 0.07). Activities of liver enzymes (ALP, AST and ALT) were higher in P. falciparum infected cord blood (44.21±4.49, 13.10± 2.64 and 13.36±3.35 U/l) compared to non P. falciparum infected cord blood (26.29±11.54, 5.67±3.09 and 6.27±4.02 U/l). Results indicate an increase in ALP activity which bears a negative correlation with cord nutrients as well as birth weight. The increase in liver enzymes’ activities in P. falciparum infected cord could also indicate a compromise in hepatic integrity of the neonate.