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N-acetylcysteine in children with dengue-associated liver failure: a case report
1Department of Paediatric Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
Insights
N-acetylcysteine offers a safe and effective treatment for severe liver damage caused by dengue virus infection. This approach shows promise for improving patient outcomes, especially where liver transplants are unavailable.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Dengue virus infection can lead to severe liver complications, including fulminant liver failure.
- Currently, no specific treatment exists for dengue-associated fulminant liver failure, posing a significant clinical challenge.
Observation:
- A 6-year-old boy presented with dengue-associated fulminant liver failure.
- The patient received intravenous N-acetylcysteine for treatment.
Findings:
- Following N-acetylcysteine administration, rapid reduction in liver transaminases and normalization of coagulation parameters were observed.
- The patient experienced clinical improvement and a favorable outcome, despite presenting with poor prognostic factors.
Implications:
- Intravenous N-acetylcysteine demonstrates safety and efficiency in managing dengue-associated fulminant liver failure.
- This treatment is particularly valuable in resource-limited settings where liver transplantation is not readily accessible.
- Further research into N-acetylcysteine for viral-induced liver failure is warranted.
Abstract:
There is no specific treatment for dengue-associated fulminant liver failure. We report a child with dengue-associated fulminant liver failure who was treated successfully with intravenous N-acetylcysteine. A 6-year-old boy was diagnosed with dengue-associated fulminant liver failure. After administration of intravenous N-acetylcysteine, a rapid decrease in liver transaminases and normalization of coagulation profile was observed followed by clinical improvement and favourable outcome despite factors associated with poor prognosis. The use of intravenous N-acetylcysteine is safe and efficient in the treatment of dengue-associated fulminant liver failure, especially in centres when liver transplantation is not readily available.
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