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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Cholestatic disorders of infancy - aetiology and outcome |
Authors: | Motala, C. Ireland, J.D. Hill, I.D. |
Year: | 1990 |
Periodical: | Journal of Tropical Pediatrics |
Volume: | 36 |
Issue: | 5 |
Pages: | 218-222 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | South Africa |
Subjects: | children liver diseases |
External link: | http://tropej.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/36/5/218 |
Abstract: | The relative frequency of causes of cholestatic disorders of infancy in a developing area was established in a prospective study. During a 10-year period, 145 infants with conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia in the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, were investigated. Intrahepatic disorders accounted for 68 percent with no identifiable cause (idiopathic hepatitis) in the majority. Syphilis, urinary tract infection (UTI) and septicaemia together made up 30 percent of intrahepatic causes with metabolic disorders accounting for 12 percent. Outcome in those with idiopathitic hepatitis, and those treated for syphilis and UTI was relatively good. Complete recovery from syphilic hepatitis on average took 11 months. Extrahepatic disorders occurred in 32 percent and were almost entirely due to biliary atresia. Results of hepatic portoenterostomy for biliary atresia were poor because of late referral in many instances. Compared to developed countries, infantile cholestasis in developing areas is more commonly associated with treatable bacterial infection. Referring agencies should be aware of this fact and the need for early referral of cases with possible biliary atresia. Ref. |