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INCIDENCE OF LOW ZINC LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS AND HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

Dr Daud Ahmad khan, Dr. Muhammad Hamad, Dr Muhammad Awais

Aim: To determine the frequency of low serum zinc in cirrhotic patients with liver encephalopathy. Study design: A cross-sectional study Place and duration: In the Department of Gastroenterology, Services Hospital Lahore for one year duration form March 2018 to March 2019. Method: 114 cases were included in the study. Serum zinc was analyzed for all patients. The result variable of this study is low serum zinc. Results: The average age of patients was 47.8 ± 7.5 years. In terms of gender distribution, 79 patients (69.3%) are men and 35 patients (30.7%) are women. Distribution of grades of hepatic encephalopathy was as follows: 18 patients (15.8%) of grade-I, 32 patients (28.1%) of grade-II, 47 patients (41.2%) of grade-III and 17 patients (14.9%) of grade-IV. In 82 patients (71.9%); low serum zinc levels was noted in cirrhotic patients with hepatic encephalopathy. Conclusion: The lowest serum zinc levels were found in patients with cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. Therefore, routine biochemical assessment of zinc in patients with cirrhosis is an important step in the treatment protocol and reduces disease progression. Key words: serum zinc levels, liver cirrhosis, hepatic encephalopathy