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Pediatric liver disease in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia: A clinicopathological study
K Al-Umran1, M B Satti, A Abumelha
1Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Pediatric liver disease diagnosis involves analyzing clinical features and histopathology from liver biopsies. This study details findings in 50 children, revealing diverse conditions from infections to genetic disorders.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hepatology
- Clinical Pathology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Liver disease in children presents a diagnostic challenge.
- Histopathological analysis of liver biopsies is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
- Understanding the spectrum of pediatric liver diseases is essential for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the clinical features and histopathological findings in pediatric liver biopsies.
- To identify the common and rare causes of liver disease in children.
- To correlate clinical presentation with biopsy results in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study design over a 10-year period.
- Inclusion of pediatric patients (<12 years) undergoing liver biopsy for diagnosis.
- Detailed analysis of clinical data and histopathological findings from liver biopsies.
Main Results:
- Fifty pediatric patients were analyzed, with 36 males and 14 females.
- Neonatal-infantile group (32 patients) showed diagnoses including neonatal giant cell hepatitis, glycogen storage disease, and biliary atresia.
- Older children (18 patients) presented with thalassemia, sickle cell disease, Reye syndrome, hepatoblastoma, and other conditions.
Conclusions:
- Liver biopsy is vital for diagnosing diverse pediatric liver diseases.
- The study highlights a broad range of etiologies, from infections to metabolic and hematologic disorders.
- Findings underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in pediatric hepatology.
Abstract:
This prospective study analyzes the clinical features and histopathological findings in liver biopsies of pediatric patients presenting to the hospital with liver disease during a 10 year period. Only those patients in whom liver biopsy was performed for a tissue diagnosis were included. Fifty patients were investigated, all below the age of 12 years, of whom 36 were male and 14 female. Thirty-two were of neonatal-infantile group, 11 had a diagnosis of neonatal giant cell he hepatitis of infections origin and an intact biliary tree. Two had septic shock and one had leishmaniasis. The remaining 18 patients of the neonatal-infantile group constituted five case of glycogen storage disease, six of infantile obstructive cholangiopathy (biliary atreasia), four of fatty change and one each of congenital hepatic fibrosis, neuroblastoma and nonspecific reactive hepatitis. The eighteen older children had the following diagnoses: thalassemia in five, sickle cell disease in four, two each of Reye syndrome and hepatoblastoma. The remaining were one each of glycogen storage disease, Rotor syndrome, cirrhosis, fatty change and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). These findings are presented and discussed.
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