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Generation of a Rat Model of Acute Liver Failure by Combining 70% Partial Hepatectomy and Acetaminophen
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Differential Diagnosis of Acute Liver Failure in Children: A Systematic Review

Giuliana Berardi1, Lynnia Tuckfield1, Michael T DelVecchio1,2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
|November 20, 2020
PubMed

Insights

The leading causes of pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) vary significantly by country

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hepatology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) presents a significant clinical challenge.
  • Etiological factors and diagnostic patterns of PALF can differ globally.
  • Understanding these variations is crucial for effective diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish a probability-based differential diagnosis for PALF.
  • To investigate the influence of patient age and country's socioeconomic status on PALF etiology.
  • To inform diagnostic approaches for PALF in diverse populations.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS.
  • Included studies focused on children (0-22 years) meeting PALF registry criteria.
  • Data extracted included PALF etiology, patient age, and country of origin from 32 articles encompassing 2,982 children.

Main Results:

  • Acetaminophen toxicity was the leading cause of PALF in developed nations (9.24%), while Hepatitis A predominated in developing countries (28.9%).
  • In developed countries, metabolic disorders (<1 year) and Non-A-B-C Hepatitis (>1 year) were most common.
  • Developing countries showed unspecified infections (<1 year) and Hepatitis A (>1 year) as leading causes.

Conclusions:

  • The etiological landscape of PALF is strongly influenced by a child's age and their country's developmental status.
  • These demographic and geographic factors are critical considerations in the differential diagnosis of PALF.
  • Tailoring diagnostic strategies based on origin and age can improve outcomes for children with PALF.
Abstract

Keywords:
Acute liver failureDeveloped countriesDeveloping countriesPediatricSystematic review

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