Morphofunctional and signaling molecules overlap of the pineal gland and thymus: role and significance in aging.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical presentations, laboratory features and management of congenital hepatic fibrosis patients at a tertiary care hospital.

METHODS

The case series was conducted at The Children Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore, Pakistan, from July 2013 to June 2015, and comprised patients of congenital hepatic fibrosis diagnosed on the basis of liver biopsy. SPSS 20 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The mean age of 25 patients in the study was 8.5±2.74 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 3:1. Parents of 21(84%) patients had consanguineous marriage, and 14(56%) patients had family history of hematemesis and melena. Besides, 15(60%) patients presented with hematemesis, 12(48%) had abdominal distension, 5(20%) were picked up on screening of siblings and 5(20%) were referred from general practitioners on feeling of hepatosplenomegaly during routine examination. All had hepatomegaly with a mean size of 7.2 ±2.3cm palpable in midline. Splenomegaly was present in 24(96%). Overall, 15(60%) patients had oesophageal varices. Endoscopic band ligations were done in oesophageal variceal patients who were successfully managed, while 5(20%) patients required portosystemic shunt surgeries.

CONCLUSIONS

Congenital hepatic fibrosis was not uncommon in our population having high rate of consanguinity and most of them were familial cases.