Manganese elevations in blood of children with congenital portosystemic shunts
N Mizoguchi1, Y Nishimura, H Ono
1Department of Paediatrics, Hiroshima University, Faculty of Medicine, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan. no-mizo@sj8.so-net.ne.jp
Unlabelled:
Magnetic response imaging has demonstrated increased signal intensities within the basal ganglia in patients with hepatic encephalopathy; the densities are considered to represent manganese deposition. We measured whole blood manganese concentrations in nine children with congenital portosystemic venous shunts detected by screening tests for galactosaemia. Beyond 1 year of age, these patients showed significantly higher manganese concentrations than controls (2.40 +/- 0.43 versus 1.48 +/- 0.38 micrograms/dl; P = 0.0001). Four of the nine patients were studied by magnetic response imaging. T1-weighted images showed increased signal intensities in the basal ganglia of those four patients, suggesting manganese accumulation.
Conclusion:
Children with congenital portosystemic venous shunts showed manganese elevations in blood and magnetic response imaging changes in the basal ganglia. These children should avoid excessive manganese intake.
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