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Nutritional status of children with chronic hepatitis B in a population with low socioeconomic status

Ozlem Bekem Soylu1, Seref Targan, Gulden Diniz

  • 1Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Dr Behcet Uz Children Disease and Pediatric Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Alsancak, Izmir, Turkey. obekem@yahoo.com

European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
|May 22, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Malnutrition affects nearly half of children with chronic hepatitis B, particularly acute malnutrition. However, chronic hepatitis B infection itself may not impact nutritional status in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Hepatology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Chronic infections and liver diseases are often linked to malnutrition.
  • Growth failure is infrequently observed in pediatric chronic hepatitis B cases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the nutritional status of children with chronic hepatitis B.
  • To investigate the relationship between anthropometric data and laboratory findings in this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of anthropometrical and laboratory data from hospital records.
  • Comparison of children with and without malnutrition based on demographic, clinical, and biochemical parameters.
  • Inclusion of parameters like HAI scores, liver enzymes, protein, albumin, and HBV DNA levels.

Main Results:

  • Nearly half (49%) of the 80 children studied exhibited malnutrition, predominantly acute.
  • Children with malnutrition had a higher age at diagnosis and shorter follow-up duration.
  • Elevated aspartate aminotransferase levels were noted in malnourished children, but other liver function markers and HBV DNA levels did not differ significantly.

Conclusions:

  • The study suggests that chronic hepatitis B infection may not significantly affect the nutritional status of children.
  • Absence of differences in liver disease severity markers between malnourished and well-nourished children supports this conclusion.
Abstract

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