Pattern of chronic liver disease in Omani children--a clinicopathological review.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the pattern of chronic liver disease in Omani children.

STUDY

DESIGN

Seventy six children [43M : 33F] aged 4 days to 10 years, referred to the Paediatric Gastroenterology clinic of the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, between 1995--2000 for evaluation of liver disease were studied. Liver biopsies were performed in all and tissues obtained processed and examined for histological lesions.

RESULT: The main histological diagnoses were neonatal hepatitis (22) biliary atresia (9) biliary hypoplasia (7), cirrhosis (7) and congenital hepatic fibrosis (5). Hepatomegaly with or without jaundice was the indication for liver biopsy in the majority of patients studied.

CONCLUSION

The study has provided background information on the occurrence of specific liver diseases in Omani children. Neonatal hepatitis syndrome was the most common diagnosis before the age of 2 years.