Assessment of Kidney and Liver Functions in Post COVID-19-Vaccinated Individuals in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: To assess kidney and liver functions in COVID-19-vaccinated individuals in Rivers State, Nigeria Study Design:  Cross-sectional Observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Polar Precision Laboratories, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, between May and November 2022. Methodology: This study was carried out on 50 apparently healthy subjects; both males and females of which 30 were COVID-19-vaccinated subjects and 20 were non-vaccinated, which were used as control subjects. The studied subjects had previously received three types of vaccines: AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna. The study analyzed kidney function parameters: [Creatinine (Cr), Urea(U), Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), Chloride (Cl-) and Bicarbonate (HCO3-)] and liver function parameters: [aspartate amino transaminase (AST), alanine amino transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Total Protein, Albumin, Direct bilirubin and Total bilirubin], using colorimetric methods except for ALP in which kinetic method was employed. Statistical analysis of the data obtained was done using GraphPad Prism version 9.0.4 of Apple Macintosh HD Big Sur (version 11.0) and p values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: It was observed that the mean ± SD for COVID-19 vaccinated subjects and non-vaccinated subjects were as follows: for renal function indices: Urea: 4.11 ± 1.03mmol/l and 3.95 ± 0.73mmol/l respectively, Cr: 100.7 ± 21.04mmol/l and 98.25 ± 15.33mmol/l respectively. Na+: 138.9 ± 4.80mmol/l and 142.7 ±3.65mmol/l respectively. K+: 4.49±0.63mmol/l and 3.17 ±0.20mmol/l respectively. Cl-: 101.0 ± 4.21mmol/l and 104.1 ± 3.14mmol/l respectively. HCO3-: 25.88 ± 3.32mmol/l and 26.74 ± 2.07mmol/l respectively. The result for liver function parameters were as follows: AST: 7.36 ± 5.16U/l and 8.08 ± 2.99U/l respectively, ALT: 2.90 ± 0.90U/l and 2.20 ± 0.62U/l respectively. ALP: 116.9 ± 36.30U/l and 118.5 ± 32.52U/l respectively. Alb.: 40.95 ± 2.49g/l and 38.90 ± 4.22g/l respectively. TP: 65.88 ± 3.40g/l and 68.05 ± 3.88g/l respectively. D.Bil: 2.147 ± 0.780µmol/l and 2.185 ± 0.502µmol/l respectively. T.Bil.: 7.31 ± 2.33µmol/l and 7.q3 ± 1.52µmol/l respectively. Comparison between the kidney function parameters for COVID-19 vaccinated and non-vaccinated subjects was not significant (p > 0.05) for urea, creatinine and HCO3-, but was significant (p < 0.05) for AST, ALP, direct, total bilirubin, ALT, Alb and total protein. Conclusion: From this study, it can be inferred that the COVID-19 vaccine had no negative effect on the liver and kidneys, but merely altered some biochemical parameters.