[FULMINANT HEPATIC FAILURE IN CHILDREN]

This study describes the etiology, clinical and laboratory characteristics of Fulminant Hepatic Failure in a pediatric population of 29 patients, of the Instituto Nacional del Niño, Lima, Peru. In eleven (11) of them, the etiology could not be established. HAV wasthe most frequent etiology, with 8 patients (44.4%) followed by inorganic phosphorus poisoning with 5 patients (27.7%). The mean age was 5 years and 4 months; encephalopathy followed by vomiting were the main symptoms and/or signs prompting the admittance of the children. The duration of the illness was 14.6 days and the time between the appearance of jaundice and the onset of encephalopathy was 6.65 days, the lesser the time the poorer the prognosis. The most frequent symptom in the physical exam was hepatomegaly followed by jaundice and encephalopathy. During its evolution all patients showed signs of encephalopathy and jaundice. The short protrombine time and the high rate of transaminases correlated with an improved prognosis and the Aspartate transaminase and bilirrubines were higher in the infectious causes. The mortality rate was 69%. The most frequent complication was upper gastro-intestinal bleeding, continued by hydroelectrolyte imbalance.