Objectives: To verify the clinical alterations and, in particular, hepatic laboratory alterations in patients in each of the heart failure (HF) functional classes.
Methods: The clinical and laboratory data--alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AP), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), bilirubin and coagulogram--of 50 patients admitted in 2002 to a tertiary hospital with the diagnosis of heart failure were researched by means of a cross sectional study. The patients were separated in accordance with their HF class and their data were compared statistically. Patients with hepatopathy of any etiology were excluded.
Results: Analysis of the mean transaminase values revealed a significant increase only for the Class IV patients. On the other hand, alkaline phosphatase and GGT presented a progressive increase in accordance with the HF class.
Conclusion: HF is characterized by a progressive cholestatic profile of laboratory alterations, while transaminase values are only elevated in advanced HF. It is of utmost importance to understand these alterations in order to avoid unnecessary hepatic investigations in individuals with heart failure.