Acute liver failure in children: observations in Vitória, Espírito Santo State, Brazil
Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop
; Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop;35(5): 483-486, Sept.-Oct. 2002. tab
Article
in En
| LILACS
| ID: lil-327999
Responsible library:
BR1.1
RESUMO
In this communication we report 46 cases of acute liver failure in children diagnosed at the Hospital Infantil Nossa Senhora da Glória in Vitória, E Santo. Serology for IgM anti-HAV, IgM anti-HBc, HbsAg, anti-HCV and biochemical tests were performed in all cases in a routine laboratory. The M/F ratio was 1.11 and the mean age was 4.7±3.2 years, without gender difference. Anti-HAV IgM+ in 38 (82.6 percent) cases, anti-HbcIgM+ in two (4.3 percent) cases and 6 (13.1 percent) cases were negative for all viral markers investigated. Anti- HCV+ in one anti-HAV IgM+ case. HbsAg+ in two anti-HbcIgM+ and in two HAVIgM+ cases. Among the six A, B and C negative cases, four (8.6 percent) did not have the suspected exogenous intoxication. Mortality was 50 percent, without gender or age differences. These results demonstrate that HAV infection is the main etiology of acute liver failure in children in Brazil, confirming that, although it is a self limited, relatively mild illness, it can cause serious and even fatal disease. The observation of four cases without A, B and C viral markers and no history of exogenous intoxication, agree with the observation of non A-E acute sporadic hepatitis in Northeastern Brazil
Full text:
1
Index:
LILACS
Main subject:
Liver Failure, Acute
/
Hepatitis, Viral, Human
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
Limits:
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Language:
En
Journal:
Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop
Journal subject:
MEDICINA TROPICAL
Year:
2002
Type:
Article