Etiology and Outcome of Acute Liver Failure in Children-The Experience of a Single Tertiary Care Hospital from Romania.

BACKGROUND

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare disease, associated with high mortality, despite optimal medical therapy without emergency liver transplantation. Knowing the possible cause of ALF plays a vital role in the management, as the child could benefit from effective specific therapies in emergencies.

METHODS

We have analyzed the etiology and outcome of ALF in children followed-up in a tertiary care hospital between January 2012-December 2018. The patients were grouped into different age categories: neonates (0-1 month), infants (1-12 months), children (1-14 years), and teenagers (14-18 years).

RESULTS

97 children (46 males, 47.42%, the mean age of 7.66 ± 8.18 years) were admitted with ALF. The most important causes of ALF were in neonates and infants, infections (72.72%), and metabolic disorders (43.47%), in children and adolescents were the toxic causes (60% and 79.41%). The mortality rate was 31.95% (31 patients), mainly in ALF due to infections or metabolic disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

In neonates and infants, the main causes of ALF were infections and metabolic diseases, while in older children and teenagers, were toxin-induced liver injuries. The mortality among neonates and infants was significantly higher than in other ages. Early recognition and immediate therapeutic intervention could improve the outcome of these patients.