Etiology, incidence and outcomes of acute hepatic failure in 0-18 year old Filipino children.

Data on the epidemiology of acute hepatic failure (AHF) among pediatric Filipinos is limited. This study investigated the etiology, outcomes and incidence of AHF among 0-18 year old Filipino children. A hospital-based retrospective and prospective surveillance study was conducted at Philippine General Hospital between January 2000 and December 2006. AHF was defined as onset of coagulopathy and/or encephalopathy < or = 28 days after the onset of symptoms, a patient/ laboratory prothrombin time >2, an elevated bilirubin level and evidence of liver failure complicated by encephalopathy. Blood samples were tested for viral hepatitis antibodies using ELISA (Abbott Lab). AHF incidence rates were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Twenty-seven subjects were recruited and 26 included in the analysis. The mean age of AHF subjects at the time of hospital admission was 6.9 years (SD:6.09 years). The most frequent etiological agents for AHF were hepatitis A virus (HAV) (19.2%; 5/26) and hepatitis B virus (3.8%; 1/26). Incidence of AHF was 11.05 per 100,000 subject years (95% CI 6.81-15.30). Jaundice was observed in 84.6% (22/26) of subjects and encephalopathy on admission (any grade) was reported in 72.0% of subjects: AHF was fatal in 84.6% (22/26) of subjects. HAV was the most common etiological agent for AHF. Indeterminate causes for AHF indicate the need for further investigation.