Assessment of Liver Function Enzymes in Patients Attending a Tertiary Hospital in Enugu State

Liver function tests are among the most routinely requested biochemical investigations in clinical settings, providing vital information about hepatocellular integrity, biliary function, and synthetic capacity. This study assesses the activities of key liver function enzymes in patients attending the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu State, comparing values between patients with confirmed hepatic disease and apparently healthy controls. A total of one hundred and twenty participants were recruited, comprising sixty patients with clinician-diagnosed hepatic conditions including hepatitis B infection, fatty liver disease, and alcoholic liver disease, and sixty age- and sex-matched apparently healthy controls. Fasting venous blood samples were collected and serum analysed for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and total and direct bilirubin using automated spectrophotometric methods. Results showed significantly elevated serum ALT, AST, ALP, and GGT activities in hepatic disease patients compared to controls. The AST to ALT ratio was greater than two in patients with alcoholic liver disease, consistent with established diagnostic patterns. Total and direct bilirubin were markedly elevated in patients with obstructive jaundice components. Gender-stratified analysis revealed that male patients showed higher baseline ALT and GGT activities than female patients across all diagnostic subgroups. The study confirms the diagnostic sensitivity of this enzyme panel for hepatic disorders in the Enugu population. Keywords: liver function enzymes, hepatic disease, ALT, AST, Enugu State.