Neonatal hepatitis: a follow-up study

Fifty-six patients with moderate to severe neonatal hepatitis were followed for 12 to 78 months. Two died from causes other than hepatitis itself and were free from liver disease at the time of death. Of the remaining 54 patients, seven died of hepatitis, two are living with chronic liver disease and psychomotor retardation, and 45 are living without liver disease. High peak bilirubin levels and liver histologic findings of periportal fibrosis, moderate to severe portal inflammation, and/or diffuse giant cell transformation appear to be major factors predictive for poor outcome. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was a common associated infection. Evidence of CMV infection was found in 22 (49%) of the 45 patients studied. Three of them died, and one is still living with cirrhosis of the liver. Metabolic disorders such as alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, galactosemia, and aminoaciduria and/or aminoacidemia were carefully screened but were not found in these cases. A fatal case had a sibling who had died of a similar disease course. Chinese infants may have metabolic and familial cholestasis diseases requiring further investigation.     

Cholestatic jaundice in infancy. The importance of familial and genetic factors in aetiology and prognosis.

One hundred and twenty-four infants admitted to hospitals in Norway between 1955 and 1974 during the first 3 months of life with cholestatic jaundice were studied retrospectively. Sixty-four infants had had extrahepatic atresia of the biliary tree and 60 had had intrahepatic cholestasis. This gives an incidence of about 1:9000 live births for cholestasis. In 4 of the 64 infants with extra-hepatic atresia a bile duct-to-bowel anastomosis had been performed but this was successful in only 2. Sixty of these infants had died by their 2nd birthday. Twenty-six of the infants with intrahepatic cholestasis had died by 1978 and the most common causes of death were cholestasis complicated by infection, bleeding, or hepatoma. The survivors aged between 4 and 23 years were followed up in 1978. In about two-thirds of them aetiological factors--such as alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, arteriohepatic dysplasia, cholestasis with lymphoedema--and other familial or genetic factors, or infections were found. Four of the 34 survivors are known to have cirrhosis. Twenty patients had biochemical abnormalities, and 12 had normal liver function tests. Two patients could not be examined. Of the 19 patients with familial or genetic aetiological factors, 4 had cirrhosis, 14 had biochemical abnormalities, and only 5 had normal liver function tests. Of 11 survivors with idiopathic disease or septicaemia, none had cirrhosis and only 4 had abnormal liver function tests.     

Cholestatic jaundice in infancy. The importance of familial and genetic factors in aetiology and prognosis

One hundred and twenty-four infants admitted to hospitals in Norway between 1955 and 1974 during the first 3 months of life with cholestatic jaundice were studied retrospectively. Sixty-four infants had had extrahepatic atresia of the biliary tree and 60 had had intrahepatic cholestasis. This gives an incidence of about 1:9000 live births for cholestasis. In 4 of the 64 infants with extra-hepatic atresia a bile duct-to-bowel anastomosis had been performed but this was successful in only 2. Sixty of these infants had died by their 2nd birthday. Twenty-six of the infants with intrahepatic cholestasis had died by 1978 and the most common causes of death were cholestasis complicated by infection, bleeding, or hepatoma. The survivors aged between 4 and 23 years were followed up in 1978. In about two-thirds of them aetiological factors--such as alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, arteriohepatic dysplasia, cholestasis with lymphoedema--and other familial or genetic factors, or infections were found. Four of the 34 survivors are known to have cirrhosis. Twenty patients had biochemical abnormalities, and 12 had normal liver function tests. Two patients could not be examined. Of the 19 patients with familial or genetic aetiological factors, 4 had cirrhosis, 14 had biochemical abnormalities, and only 5 had normal liver function tests. Of 11 survivors with idiopathic disease or septicaemia, none had cirrhosis and only 4 had abnormal liver function tests.     

Cirrhosis and cirrhogenic diseases in Tunisian children. Multicenter study of 65 cases]

Over a period of 10 years, 65 cases of hepatic cirrhosis and cirrhogenic disease have been observed in five Pediatric Centers in mid Tunisia. The age of the patients ranged from 30 days to 14 years. The main etiology was biliary cirrhosis (24 cases) followed by post-hepatic cirrhosis (15 cases). Eight cases had a metabolic origin, which was Wilson's diseases in five cases. Three children had cirrhosis of a pre-hepatic origin. In 15 children, the liver biopsy showed the presence of cirrhosis but the etiology could not be found. Preventive measures are needed in order to reduce the frequency of cirrhosis among Tunisian children: 1) early recognition of biliary atresia, 2) vaccination against hepatitis B virus of at risk neonates and children, 3) Genetic counselling and search for familial cases when cirrhosis of metabolic origin is identified, particularly Wilson's disease.     

Nonsyndromic paucity of interlobular bile ducts: report of 10 patients

OBJECTIVES: Only a few reports of nonsyndromic paucity of interlobular bile ducts (NS-PILBD) have been published. The authors' aim was to outline the clinical and laboratory profile of patients with NS-PILBD diagnosed at a tertiary referral center. METHODS: The authors reviewed all the reports of pediatric liver biopsies performed between 1991 and 2000 at their institution. Upon diagnosis of NS-PILBD, patients' records were examined for clinical, laboratory, and histologic data, and liver biopsy specimens were re-evaluated. RESULTS: Three hundred biopsies were performed in children during the study period, of which 64 were in infants younger than 1 year. NS-PILBD was diagnosed in 10 of 64 (16%) biopsy specimens. Mean age at presentation was 10 days (range, 1 day-6 weeks), and mean follow-up was 4.5 years (range, 1-9 years). An underlying condition was identified in 70% of children with NS-PILBD: namely congenital cytomegalovirus (n = 2), progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC, n = 2), mitochondrial DNA depletion (n = 1), Niemann-Pick type C (n = 1), and arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, renal dysfunction, and cholestasis (ARC syndrome; n = 1). All children presented with jaundice. Four children had initially acholic stools. At their last follow-up visit, failure to thrive was present in five children, and cholestasis in six children. Mortality was noted only in children with metabolic diseases (n = 2). CONCLUSIONS: In the study, NS-PILBD was common in young children undergoing liver biopsy. Although NS-PILBD is nonspecific, a wide survey for inborn errors of metabolism should be included in the diagnostic work-up of NS-PILBD. In the authors' center, the association of certain metabolic diseases with NS-PILBD carries a grave prognosis.     

Liver cirrhosis associated with chronic hepatitis B virus infection in childhood

We evaluated the prevalence and the clinical features of liver cirrhosis associated with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a prospective study of 292 consecutive children who were chronic HBsAg carriers with increased aminotransferase activity. Liver histologic changes at presentation were consistent with cirrhosis in 10 (3.4%) patients (100% boys, mean age 4.0 +/- 3.3 years). In none of the remaining children, including 166 with histologic evidence of chronic active hepatitis, did the condition progress to cirrhosis during an observation period of 1 to 10 years. This lack of progression suggests that cirrhosis is an early complication of chronic HBV disease in some patients. A higher prevalence of delta infection and increased incidence of blood transfusions were observed in patients with cirrhosis, supporting the hypothesis that superinfection with delta or non-A, non-B agents may play a synergistic role. Eight of 10 patients had histologic features of disease activity at presentation, although only two had symptoms. During follow-up, persistence of disease activity was observed only in the three delta antigen-positive patients. None of the patients with inactive cirrhosis have developed signs of liver failure or portal hypertension.     

Liver disease associated with alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency in childhood.

Liver disease in children with alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency and protease inhibitor type ZZ does not necessarily carry a bad prognosis. Fourteen of our 18 patients presented with the neonatal hepatitis syndrome and four had hepatomegaly without jaundice. Although four patients have died of cirrhosis and its complications, and three have severe liver disease, most of the 11 others, of whom four are over 13 years of age, have relatively little clinical, biochemical, or histologic evidence of liver disease. Persistent elevation of SGOT during the third year of life and renal or pulmonary problems were associated with a poor prognosis. Liver biopsy early in the course of the disease was not helpful prognostically but was useful in assessment of the severity of liver disease and demonstration of alpha1AT storage, alpha1AT deficiency was found in 29% of our patients who presented with the neonatal hepatitis syndrome. One of seven apparently healthy Pi type ZZ sibs of our patients had significant liver disease which had not been suspected previously.     

Long-term survival following Kasai portoenterostomy: is chronic liver disease inevitable?

OBJECTIVES: Extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) is the most common indication for liver transplantation in childhood. Most children who do not undergo transplant are reported to have chronic liver disease and its complications. The aim of this single-center study was to identify children with normal laboratory indices and no clinical evidence of chronic liver disease 10 or more years after Kasai portoenterostomy (KP). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the medical notes of all children surgically treated at the authors' center between 1979 and 1991 was undertaken. Criteria for inclusion were absence of surgical complications, unremarkable clinical examination, and normal bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, international normalized prothrombin ratio, and platelet count. RESULTS: Of 244 children surgically treated during the observation period, the authors identified 28 (11%) adolescents (14 male) who fulfilled the entry criteria. Their median age was 13.4 years (range, 10.2-22.2 years). Twenty-six with type 3 EHBA had conventional KP, whereas 2 underwent modified operations. The corrective surgery was performed at a median age of 58 days (range, 20-99 days). Median time of complete clearance of jaundice from the date of KP was 75 days (range, 21-339 days). Twelve (43%) patients had history of cholangitis at a median age of 3.4 years. The liver histologic findings were suggestive of mild to moderate fibrosis in 54.2% and cirrhosis in 40.7% of the patients who underwent biopsy. No child had gastrointestinal bleeding during follow-up. Thirteen (46%) patients had an elective esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which was normal in all. Twenty-six (93%) patients were in mainstream education, whereas the remaining two (7%) attended special school because of reasons unrelated to liver disease. CONCLUSIONS: A sizable proportion of children with EHBA avoid significant chronic liver disease and its complications 10 years or more after conventional surgical correction and have an excellent quality of life. Their good outcome is not hampered by isolated episodes of ascending cholangitis. Whether or not the residual histologic damage will become symptomatic during their lifetime remains to be established.     

Association of serum interleukin-8 levels with the degree of fibrosis in infants with chronic liver disease

OBJECTIVE: Biliary atresia is a neonatal obstructive cholangiopathy characterized by a destructive, obliterative process affecting both the intrahepatic and extrahepatic ducts of the biliary tree that uniquely presents in the first months of life. The consequence of progressive inflammatory and sclerotic reaction is the development of obstructive jaundice. To determine the proinflammatory cytokine profile in children with biliary atresia, we measured circulating levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-8. METHODS: Twelve children, five males and seven females, with biliary atresia were studied. In addition, four patients with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis and three with Alagille syndrome were also included. Five patients with neonatal hepatitis were studied as controls of a liver disease without portal fibrosis. Serum concentration of total and conjugated bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transferase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase were measured by routine methods in all patients at time of sampling for the study. The degree of fibrosis in liver biopsies was scored using the histologic activity index. RESULTS: In our study IL-8 was detectable in 11 of 12 patients with biliary atresia with a median level of 262 pg/ml and a highly statistically significant difference (P < 0.0001) from controls. In patients with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis or with Alagille syndrome serum IL-8 levels were similarly elevated. In patients with neonatal hepatitis, IL-8 levels were marginally increased. Serum IL-8 levels were significantly correlated (Rs = 0.725, P < 0.0001) with the histologic activity index. CONCLUSIONS: Although further studies are needed to determine the role of IL-8 in portal inflammation, our results suggest that increased production of IL-8 may be a mechanism leading to the progressive portal inflammation and fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease.     

Liver disease associated with anti-liver-kidney microsome antibody in children

In the past 10 years we have examined 20 children with inflammatory liver disease associated with high serum titers of anti-liver-kidney microsome antibody (anti-LKM). The first hepatic symptoms were progressive fatigue and jaundice, the fortuitous finding of hepatomegaly or splenomegaly with raised transaminase activity, or an acute hepatitis-like illness. At the time of diagnosis, hepatomegaly was present in 18 children, splenomegaly in 16, jaundice in nine, and ascites in two. Serum alanine transferase activities were elevated in all but two, who had already received steroids. Serum total gammaglobulin values were greater than 2.0 gm/dl in 16 children, prothrombin activity less than or equal to 60% in six, and serum titer of anti-LKM between 1:100 and 1:100,000. All children but one had cirrhosis, and histologic signs of aggressivity were present in 14. In 11 children one or more extrahepatic diseases were present, including type 1 diabetes, vitiligo, glomerulonephritis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, hypoglycemia with hyperinsulinism, autoimmune thyroiditis, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis with hypoparathyroidism, and multiple cutaneous and visceral telangiectasias. Treatment with prednisone and azathioprine improved the liver condition in 16 of the 18 patients given treatment. In eight of them discontinuation of treatment resulted in rapid relapse; 14 are still receiving treatment and have stable hepatic function with follow-up from 8 months to 6 1/2 years. Only two are free of treatment. Four children died, two in spite of immunosuppressive therapy, one during a relapse, and one of extrahepatic disease. These results indicate that this autoimmune inflammatory liver disease may have onset early in life, with several clinical patterns; is frequently associated with certain types of extrahepatic manifestations of autoimmune origin; and is a potentially fatal disease for which immunosuppressive treatment must be started early.     

Treatment of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis: Liver transplantation or partial external biliary diversion

Progressive intrahepatic familial cholestasis (PFIC), previously called Byler's disease, is a syndrome in which children develop severe cholestasis progressing to biliary cirrhosis and chronic liver failure, usually during the first decade of life. Clinical features include jaundice, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, growth retardation and severe pruritis. Laboratory tests demonstrate elevated bilirubin and bile acids, without an increase in serum gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase or cholesterol. This study was performed to evaluate our experience with medical therapy as well as two types of surgical treatment used in children with PFIC, particularly partial external biliary diversion (PEBD) as an alternative method of therapy to liver transplantation (OLTx). Between 1979 and 1998 we have treated 46 children with PFIC (27 boys and 19 girls), aged 10 months to 19 yr (at the time of this study). Medical treatment with ursodeoxycholic (UDCA) was used in 39 patients for the period between 6 and 82 months. PEBD (cholecysto-jejuno-cutaneostomy) was performed in 16 patients, OLTx in eight children (including one after unsuccessful PEBD). Retrospective analysis of the clinical course and selected laboratory tests (bilirubin, ASPAT, ALAT, bile acids), and histopathological examinations were performed. Results of treatment were assessed by means of influence of the type of treatment on clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, progress of liver cirrhosis and hepatic failure, as well as physical development and survival. Medical therapy was effective in the long term in four (10%) of the patients resulting in clinical and biochemical normalization. Both surgical methods of therapy of PFIC, PEBD and OLTx, resulted in an 80% success rate and therefore should be used as complementary therapies. In patients before established liver cirrhosis, PEBD should be the first choice of treatment. Patients presenting with cirrhosis or after ineffective PEBD should qualify for OLTx. With this strategy most children with PIFC can be cured.     

Indication for redo hepatic portoenterostomy for insufficient bile drainage in biliary atresia: re-evaluation in the era of liver transplantation

To determine the role of redo hepatic portoenterostomy (HPE) in biliary atresia (BA) patients with insufficient bile excretion after the initial HPE, 25 patients (type I, correctable: 2; type III, uncorrectable: 23) undergoing the initial HPE at 25 to 119 days of age were studied. Four patients achieved disappearance of jaundice (total bilirubin [T.Bil] < 2 mg/dl) postoperatively. A redo HPE was performed at 2 to 8 months of age with sufficient and extensive removal of granulation and scar tissue at the hepatic hilum. Five patients became free of jaundice in 3 to 6 months (group 1), while the remaining 20 did not (group 2). Disappearance of jaundice after the initial HPE had been achieved in 2 of 5 patients (40%) in group 1 and 2 of 20 (10%) in group 2 ( P < 0.05). Age, serum T.Bil, aspartate aminotransferase albumin, prothrombin time, cholinesterase, total cholesterol, and Fischer's ratio at redo HPE showed no significant differences between the two groups. On liver histology obtained at redo HPE, cirrhosis and hepatocyte degeneration were seen in 1 of 5 cases (20%) in group 1 and 12 of 20 (60%) in group 2 ( P < 0.05). Redo HPE may thus be effective in BA patients with insufficient bile drainage who achieved disappearance of jaundice after the initial HPE and have not developed cirrhosis.     

胆道闭锁肝胆病理改变与预后的关系研究

目的 通过研究BA患儿术中肝活检和肝门纤维块的病理表现,探讨肝脏和纤维块病理表现与BA预后的关系.方法 2009年4月至2010年9月,61例BA患儿在我院行Kasai手术治疗,术中取肝活检和肝门纤维块.病理切片观察肝小叶结构、纤维化情况,将所有BA患儿根据肝病理诊断是否为胆汁性肝硬化分为肝硬化组和非肝硬化组.根据镜下观察到纤维块中小胆管增生的程度分为少许小胆管增生组和较多小胆管增生组.术后随访3～17个月.结果 病理诊断为肝硬化者术时年龄较大、术中门脉测压较高、术后肝功能恢复情况较差.肝硬化组术后3个月黄疸消退率明显较非肝硬化组低(X2=4.020,P=0.045),术后1年病死率明显较非肝硬化组高(P=0.046).肝硬化者纤维块内小胆管增生程度较重(x2=4.244,P=0.039);纤维块内小胆管增生越严重,术后3个月黄疸消退率越低(P=0.045).结论 肝病理检查是较早的评估BA患儿预后的可靠方法,肝硬化是影响BA预后的重要因素;纤维块小胆管增生程度与BA患儿的短期预后有相关关系,但其是否与BA的远期预后有关系还需要进一步的研究.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the correlation between the pathologic changes of liver and fibrous portal tissue and prognosis of biliary atresia (BA). Methods Between April 2009 and September 2010, the Kasai's procedures were carried out on 61 patients with BA. Specimens of the liver tissue and fibrous portal tissue were collected in operation. The pathology of the liver tissue and fibrous portal tissue was studied. Based on the severity of hepatic cirrhosis, the patients were grouped into two groups: cirrhosis group and no cirrhosis group. According to whether or not there was obvious bile ductular proliferation in fibrous portal tissue, the hepatic cirrhosis patients were further grouped into 2 groups. All of patients with BA were followed up for 3 to 17 months. Results The patients of hepatic cirrhosis group were older at operation, and had higher portal pressure and poorer prognosis. The 3 months post-operative jaundice clearance rate of cirrhosis patients was significantly lower than that of no cirrhosis patients (39. 5% vs 83. 3%,X2 = 4. 020,P= 0. 045). The 1-year post-operative mortality of the cirrhosis patients was significantly higher than that of no cirrhosis patients (53. 3% vs 0,P= 0. 046). The patients of the cirrhosis group had more bile ductular proliferation (60% vs 0, X2 = 4. 244, P = 0. 039). The more severe bile ductal proliferation in the cirrhosis patients was, the lower jaundice clearance rate they would have (76. 5% vs 38. 5%,P=0. 045). Conclusions The pathologic findings of liver can be used to predict the prognosis of the BA patients after Kasai's procedure. The patients with severe hepatic cirrhosis and bile ductal proliferation have poor prognosis.     

Biliary atresia in Turkish children

AIM: To evaluate surgical success, survival rate and relationship of outcome parameters with time at diagnosis and operation of extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) patients in Izmir, Turkey. METHODS: Clinical and laboratory data were reviewed from case reports of 27 EHBA patients. Twenty-five patients were operated on using Kasai procedure and two cases received liver transplants without portoenterostomy due to decompansated liver cirrhosis on diagnosis. Post operational success was defined as clearance of jaundice (bilirubine level <2 mg/dL). Patients were studied in two groups: I (jaundice free and/or compensated liver disease with liver transplant if needed after 3 years of age) and II (progressive liver disease with death or liver transplant if needed before 3 years of age). Kasai success, age at diagnosis and operation, survival and correlation of outcome with age, preoperative liver functions were evaluated. Eight patients received liver transplants. RESULTS: Median age at diagnosis was 63.5 days (21-212) and portoenterostomy was performed at median age of 67.5 days (25-220). Kasai operation was successful in two cases (8%) and the operation was performed at 35 and 42 days. Age at diagnosis (P = 0.13) and operation (P = 0.2) was not different between the two groups. Group I and II consisted of seven (28%) and 18 (72%) infants. Pre-existing ascites, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and globulin levels were significantly higher in group II patients (P = 0.008, P = 0.04, P = 0.017, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study indicate that general practitioners should pay close attention to the evaluation of infants with prolonged jaundice in Turkey. Because of frequent late diagnosis presenting with cirrhosis at admission and also because of the low organ donation rates in Turkey, living related liver transplantation is an option and is currently undergoing detailed ethical consideration.     

Liver transplantation for progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis: clinical and histopathological findings, outcome and impact on growth

In this study, we analyze the demographic features, clinical and histopathological findings in patients who underwent liver transplantation for progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis. We also analyze outcome and impact of liver transplantation on growth and bone mineral content. Most of the patients were presented with jaundice mainly beginning within the first six months. At the time of initial admission; eight patients had short stature (height SD score<2), and four patients had weight SD score<2. Liver transplantation were performed at the age of 43.2+/-27 months (range 9 to 96 months), 6.5+/-3.5 months later after the first admission. Infection, surgical complications and osmotic diarrhea associated with severe metabolic acidosis were noted in 41.4%, 16.6% and 33.3%, respectively. One patient developed posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder. Overall; 1 year graft and patient survival was 69.2% and 75%, respectively. At the end of the 1st year only 2 patients had height SD score<2. Linear regression of height gain against increase in total body BMD measured at the time of transplantation and 1 year after liver transplantation gave a coefficient r=0.588 (p=0.074). No correlation was found between the height gain and age and PELD score at time of transplantation, and no difference was noted between the sexes and donor type. Liver transplantation is effective treatment modality with good outcome and little morbidity, and increases the growth acceleration in patients with PFIC associated with cirrhosis.     

Liver disease in Navajo neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical and histologic features of liver disease in infants and children with Navajo neuropathy (NN). METHODS: Physicians at Navajo Area Indian Health Service facilities and neurologists and gastroenterologists at regional referral hospitals were surveyed for identification of patients born between 1980 and 1994 with known or suspected NN. Clinical records and liver histologic findings were reviewed. RESULTS: Liver disease was present in all children with NN. Three clinical phenotypes of NN were observed, based on age at presentation and course: infantile NN presented in 5 infants before 6 months of age with jaundice and failure to thrive and progressed to liver failure before 2 years of age; childhood NN presented in 6 children between 1 and 5 years of age with liver dysfunction, which progressed to liver failure and death within 6 months; and classical NN presented in 9 children with variable onset of liver disease but progressive neurologic deterioration. Liver histologic findings were characterized by multinucleate giant cells, macrovesicular and microvesicular steatosis, pseudo-acini, inflammation, cholestasis, and bridging fibrosis and cirrhosis. Cases of all 3 phenotypes occurred within the same kindred. CONCLUSIONS: Liver disease is an important component of NN and may be the predominant feature in infants and young children. We propose changing the name of this disease to Navajo neurohepatopathy.     

Prolonged Neonatal Jaundice in Cystic Fibrosis

Four patients with cystic fibrosis developed prolonged obstructive jaundice starting in the newborn period. Obstructive biliary cirrhosis was shown post mortem in one of them who died at 5 months from pneumonia, while another dying at 8 years had an histologically normal liver at necropsy. The two survivors were jaundiced for 6 months and 5 weeks respectively, before making a clinical recovery, and in both liver biopsy at the height of the jaundice showed bile stasis.Meconium ileus was present in half of all recorded cases of cystic fibrosis with prolonged neonatal jaundice. Jaundice is probably due to extrahepatic biliary obstruction from bile of increased density, with secondary intrahepatic bile stasis.     

Management of biliary atresia in Nigeria: the ongoing challenge

BACKGROUND: In developed countries, the outlook for patients with biliary atresia has improved remarkably owing to early referral, good diagnostic facilities and the availability of liver transplantation. In Nigeria and most of sub-Saharan Africa, there is little information on the current outlook for these children. METHODS: A retrospective review of 14 patients with biliary atresia managed from 1991 to 2004 at Ahmadu Bello University Hospital, Zaria. RESULTS: Six girls and eight boys presented at between 6 and 24 weeks of age (median 16). Seven presented to another hospital with persistent jaundice in the neonatal period. Eleven at presentation already had liver cirrhosis and deranged coagulation and could not have corrective surgery. Three patients aged 8, 10 and 16 weeks had Kasai's porto-enterostomy. Facilities for diagnosis were limited. Ten patients were lost to follow-up and their outcome is unknown. Of the three patients who had porto-enterostomy, one died at 2 years from gastro-enteritis, one from cholangitis after 8 weeks, and one did not recover from anaesthesia. One patient who had a laparotomy and liver biopsy died from peritonitis. CONCLUSION: Owing to late presentation, delayed referral and difficulties in diagnosis, the outlook for infants with biliary atresia in this environment is poor. A concerted effort to encourage primary practitioners to detect and refer these infants at an earlier age is critical to outcome.     

先天性胆总管囊肿致肝脏病损的临床分析及转归

为了对儿童先天胆总管囊肿（ＣＢＤ）导致肝脏病损的有关临床因素及其转归进行分析， 对收治的３７例先天性胆总管囊肿患儿按肝脏病理改变的程度分成三组：肝硬变组１５例，肝硬变前期组２０例及正常肝细胞组２例。结果，肝硬变组年龄明显小于肝硬变前期组，前者平均年龄１７．３７个月，后者为７０．２５个月（Ｐ＜０．００１）。肝硬变组患儿均有持续性贡疽史，肝硬变前期组有持续性黄疸史的仅３例，肝硬变组囊肿直径平均值为７．８ｃｍ，肝硬变前期组囊肿直径平均值为４．７ｃｍ（Ｐ＜０．０５）。肝硬变组９例获术后长期随访，８例恢复满意。结论：①ＣＢＤ患儿出现症状越早，肝硬变机会越大。　②胆道梗阻是ＣＢＤ导致肝脏病损的主要原因。　③ＣＢＤＩ型患儿囊肿越大，对胆流动力学影响越大，　对肝脏的影响也越大。　④对已出现严重肝硬变的ＣＢＤ患儿仍应持积极态度，胆道梗阻解除后肝硬变仍有逆转的可能。     

36例儿童肝硬化病因及临床特征分析

目的　探讨儿童肝硬化的病因及临床特征,了解其预后,提高对其认识和诊治水平。方法　回顾性分析华中科技大学同济医学院附属同济医院儿童消化专科2016年10月至2020年12月收治的36例儿童肝硬化患儿的临床资料,包括性别、年龄、既往史、病因、临床表现、并发症、确诊时营养状况、实验室检查结果、基因结果和治疗后随访情况等,比较预后良好组与死亡组患儿的相关指标差异。结果　36例肝硬化患儿,男18例,女18例,年龄为51.7（5,84）月,其中胆道闭锁13例,肝豆状核变性6例,先天性肝内胆管扩张症（Caroli病）2例,进行性家族性肝内胆汁淤积症（PFIC）2 例,遗传性出血性毛细血管扩张症（HHT）1例,尼曼-匹克病1例,先天性胆汁酸合成障碍 1例,新生儿肝内胆内淤积症（NICCD）1例、SDS综合征1例,乙肝肝硬化1例,隐源性肝硬化7例。临床特征主要为脾大18例（50%）、皮肤黄染16例（44.4%）、发热10例（27.7%）、腹胀10例（27.7%）、消化道出血6例（16.6%）、呕吐4例（11.1%）等。确诊肝硬化时8例（22.2%）患儿存在体重低下,12例（33.3%）患儿存在生长迟缓。36例全部行肝胆B超检查诊断肝硬化,其中14例腹部CT检查诊断肝硬化,15例组织病理诊断肝硬化。并发症主要包括食管胃底静脉曲张9例（26.4%）,脾功能亢进和（或）血细胞减少8例（23.5%）,腹腔积液6例（16.6%）等。10例完善基因相关检查,6例检测出致病基因,分别为NPC1、ABCB4、SADM4、ATP7B、SBDS和SLC25A13;所有患儿优先根据病因治疗,在此基础上加用护肝和退黄药等对症支持治疗,其中27（75%）例患儿一般情况良好,7（19.4%）例死亡,8例患儿已行肝移植治疗,2例患儿目前等待肝移植。预后良好组与死亡组两组比较,在丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）、天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）、γ-谷氨酰转肽酶（GGT）、凝血酶原时间（PT）、血小板、总胆红素（TBIL）方面差异无统计学意义（P均＞0.05）;在患儿确诊时年龄、白蛋白（ALB）、直接胆红素（DBIL）方面差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论　儿童肝硬化的病因与成人大不相同,胆道闭锁是其最常见的病因;B超是诊断其最常用的检查方法;肝硬化患儿易出现营养不良,建议加强营养补充;患儿起病年龄越小,伴白蛋白水平越低、直接胆红素水平越高时其预后差、病死率高。