Combination of white blood cell count with liver enzymes in the diagnosis of blunt liver laceration.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

It is sometimes difficult to decide whether to perform abdominal computed tomographic (CT) scans for possible liver laceration in patients who have sustained less severe or minor blunt abdominal trauma. This study was conducted to find out whether the basic laboratory workup could provide information of possible liver laceration in blunt abdominal trauma patients and act as an indication for CT scans.

METHODS:

In this retrospective case-control study, we included 289 patients who had sustained blunt abdominal injury for which they received abdominal CT scans in our emergency department. Of the 289 patients, the study group (n = 42) included patients who had been found to have liver lacerations after obtaining the CT; the controls (n = 42) were those not found to have such injuries by the same method with matching of age and sex.

RESULTS:

In patients with blunt abdominal injuries, there is a strong difference in liver laceration between elevation of white blood cell (WBC) counts (P = .001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P < .001), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P < .001). A logistic regression model demonstrated that WBC count and AST were independently associated with liver laceration. With elevations of serum AST greater than 100 IU/L, ALT greater than 80 IU/L, and WBC count greater than 10 000/mm(3), we found a sensitivity and specificity of 90.0% and 92.3%, respectively, in the 42 liver laceration victims.

CONCLUSION:

In patients with blunt abdominal trauma, elevated WBC counts together with elevated AST and ALT are strongly associated with liver laceration and warrant further imaging studies and management.

• Authors: Wei-Che Lee, Liang-Chi Kuo, Yuan-Chia Cheng, Chao-Wen Chen, Yen-Ko Lin, Tsung-Ying Lin, Hsing-Lin Lin
• Journal: The American journal of emergency medicine (Am J Emerg Med) Vol. 28 Issue 9 Pg. 1024-9 (Nov 2010) ISSN: 1532-8171 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20825933 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Aspartate Aminotransferases
• Alanine Transaminase

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Alanine Transaminase (blood)
• Aspartate Aminotransferases (blood)
• Case-Control Studies
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Lacerations (blood, diagnosis)
• Leukocyte Count
• Liver (injuries)
• Liver Function Tests
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Odds Ratio
• Retrospective Studies
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Wounds, Nonpenetrating (blood, diagnosis)
• Young Adult