Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) levels in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities.
Kids with ID have higher liver enzymes—add GOT/GPT to their yearly labs.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Doctors pulled the blood-test charts of 1,041 students with intellectual disability in Taiwan.
They recorded two liver enzymes: GOT and GPT. They also noted BMI, hepatitis B status, uric acid, and cholesterol.
What they found
Seven in every hundred kids had high GPT. Four in every hundred had high GOT.
Higher BMI, positive hepatitis B test, high cholesterol, and high uric acid all raised the risk.
How this fits with other research
Lin et al. (2009) studied the same Taiwan roster and found one-third of the boys already had high uric acid. The new paper shows the same uric acid spike also predicts liver stress.
Lee et al. (2012) looked at every child with ID in Taiwan and saw hepatitis listed as a top illness. The lab data now give a number you can bring to the pediatrician.
Lin et al. (2010) ran kidney labs on the same students and found one in five had high creatinine. Liver and kidney results together argue for a full metabolic panel, not single-organ checks.
Why it matters
You already track adaptive goals. Add one line to the annual physical form: 'GOT/GPT needed.' Picking up liver trouble early prevents medication clashes and keeps kids on therapy schedules. Tell parents the quick blood draw is part of routine care for anyone with ID, just like vision or hearing screens.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The elevated serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) rate among people with intellectual disabilities (ID) is unknown and have not been sufficiently studies. The present paper aims to provide the profile of GOT and GPT, and their associated relationship with other biochemical levels of children or adolescents with ID. A cross-sectional design was conducted in three Taiwanese public special schools to analyze annual health examination chart of students with ID. There were 1041 aged 3-21 years children and adolescents with ID participated in the study. The results show elevated rate of GOT and GPT were 3.7% and 7.2%, the study indicates the elevated GPT in children and adolescents with ID is higher than the general school aged children in Taiwan. In multiple linear regression models show that the factors of BMI, HBsAg, TC and UA can significantly explain the GOT value (R(2)=0.275). Those factors of gender, BMI, HBsAg, TC and UA can significantly explain 44.4% variation of GPT value (R(2)=0.444). To prevent the further liver disease burden in people with ID, the study highlights that the health care professionals should assess liver functions of this group of people, and to inform their caregivers the importance of implement regular liver health check-up.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2010 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2009.08.005