Acute liver failure in children: observations in Vitória, Espírito Santo State, Brazil Insuficiência hepática aguda na criança: observações em Vitória, Estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Sandra F. Moreira-Silva, Diana O. Frauches, Alba L. Almeida, Haydée F.M.S. Mendonça, Fausto Edmundo L. Pereira
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2002
• Subjects: Hepatite fulminante; Insuficiência hepática; Hepatite aguda; Hepatite A; Hepatite; Fulminant hepatitis; Liver failure; Acute hepatitis; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Aguda; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0037-86822002000500010; https://doaj.org/article/1da091c895ef475bb3b2825d535b158f

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 1.1:1 and the mean age was 4.7±3.2 years, without gender difference. Anti-HAV IgM+ in 38 (82.6%) cases, anti-HbcIgM+ in two (4.3 %) cases and 6 (13.1%) 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%) did not have the suspected exogenous intoxication. Mortality was 50%, 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. São relatados 46 casos de insuficiência hepática aguda, diagnosticados no Hospital Infantil Nossa Senhora da Glória, em Vitória, Espírito Santo. Sorologia para IgM anti-HAV, IgM anti-HBc, HbsAg, anti-VHC e testes bioquímicos realizados em laboratório de rotina. Relação M/F de 1,1:1; média de idades: 4,7±3,2 anos, sem diferença entre os sexos. IgM anti-VHA+ em 38 (82.6%) casos, IgM anti-HBc+ em dois (4,3%) casos e seis (13,1%)casos foram negativos para os marcadores virais investigados. HbsAg+ em dois casos IgM anti-HBc+ e em dois com IgM anti-VHA+. Anti-VHC+ em um caso IgM anti-VHA+. Entre os seis casos negativos para VHA, VHB e VHC, quatro (8,6%) não tinham suspeita de intoxicação exógena. A mortalidade foi de 50% sem diferenças em relação à idade ou sexo. Os resultados demonstram que o vírus da hepatite A é o principal agente etiológico de ...