Resolution of hypophosphatemia is associated with recovery of hepatic function in children with fulminant hepatic failure

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is a rare but often fatal disease in children. Clinical and laboratory predictors of liver regeneration and recovery, however, have not been well established. We hypothesized that hypophosphatemia may indicate recovery of liver synthetic function in children with FHF. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children with FHF who were admitted to UCLA and recovered hepatic function either spontaneously or by liver transplantation (LTx). Serum phosphate (Ph) and prothrombin time or international normalized ratio (INR) were compared over the patient's clinical course. Records of 39 children who spontaneously recovered experienced profound hypophosphatemia that resolved as liver synthetic function improved. Similar patterns were seen in the 84 children who recovered after LTx. We found that hypophosphatemia precedes the recovery of liver synthetic function in children with FHF who recovered with or without transplantation, and that Ph levels return to normal as liver synthetic function improves. These data suggest that hypophosphatemia may be a useful laboratory indicator of recovering liver function in children with FHF.     

Adequate symptom relief justifies hepatic resection for benign disease

Background  

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term results of partial liver resection for benign liver lesions.     

Oral pigmented lesions: Clinicopathologic features and review of the literature

Diagnosis of pigmented lesions of the oral cavity and perioral tissues is challenging. Even though epidemiology may be of some help in orientating the clinician and even though some lesions may confidently be diagnosed on clinical grounds alone, the definitive diagnosis usually requires histopathologic evaluation. Oral pigmentation can be physiological or pathological, and exogenous or endogenous. Color, location, distribution, and duration as well as drugs use, family history, and change in pattern are important for the differential diagnosis. Dark or black pigmented lesions can be focal, multifocal or diffuse macules, including entities such as racial pigmentation, melanotic macule, melanocytic nevus, blue nevus, smoker’s melanosis, oral melanoacanthoma, pigmentation by foreign bodies or induced by drugs, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, Addison´s disease and oral melanoma. The aim of this review is to present the main oral black lesions contributing to better approach of the patients. Key words:Pigmentation, melanin, oral, diagnosis, management.     

Enfermedad hepática crónica asociada a la cirugía de Fontan

ObjectiveTo review the pathophysiology of Fontan-associated liver disease, its histologic changes, and its radiologic manifestations.ConclusionsFontan-associated liver disease is the result of a set of structural and functional changes in the liver that occur secondary to hemodynamic changes brought about by Fontan surgery. The radiologic manifestations of Fontan-associated liver disease consist of changes in the size and shape of the liver, alterations in the signal intensity or pattern of enhancement, abnormalities in the vascular structures, and focal lesions, which include benign nodules with intense uptake in the arterial phase and hepatocellular carcinoma. Radiologists need to be familiar with this disease and its complications, because the number of patients who undergo Fontan surgery continues to increase, and these patients undergo an increasing number of imaging tests.