Correlation of serum cholylglycine level with hepatic dysfunction in children with sickle cell anemia

Hepatic dysfunction occurs commonly in children with sickle cell disease (S CD). Although the etiology is multifactorial, cholestasis is a prominent fe ature. Serum cholylglycine (CG) has been found to be a very sensitive indic ator of cholestasis, Our objective was to determine whether CG levels are e levated in children with SCD and whether they are predictive of hepatic dys function. Blood samples were obtained from 97 children with SCD. Liver func tion tests were done and serum CG concentrations were measured. Patients we re followed up for 2 years. Thirty-eight per-cent of the patients had an el evated CG level. During the 2 years of follow-up, 16% of the children with a previously elevated CG level developed abnormal liver function test resul ts or required a cholecystectomy as compared with 13% with a previously nor mal CG level (p=0.92). We conclude that although CG le level was elevated i n 38% of the patients with SCD, it did not appear to predict liver dysfunct ion during the ensuing 2 years.