1. An unusual case of intrauterine symptomatic neonatal liver failure.
- Author
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Keller M, Scholl-Buergi S, Sergi C, Theurl I, Weiss G, Unsinn KM, and Trawöger R
- Subjects
- Age Factors, Antioxidants therapeutic use, Biopsy, Cesarean Section, Female, Ferritins blood, Follow-Up Studies, Gestational Age, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Iron Chelating Agents therapeutic use, Iron Overload diagnosis, Liver pathology, Liver Cirrhosis pathology, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Pregnancy, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome, Ultrasonography, Prenatal, Ascites diagnostic imaging, Fetal Diseases diagnostic imaging, Hemochromatosis blood, Hemochromatosis diagnosis, Hemochromatosis drug therapy, Hypertension, Portal diagnosis, Liver Failure, Acute diagnosis
- Abstract
Unlabelled: We present an unusual case of neonatal liver failure. Isolated ascites was diagnosed in a female fetus at week 34 gestational age upon routine ultrasound. In the 35th week of gestation a cesarean section was carried out after puncture of fetal ascites. After birth the patient showed symptoms and complications of acute liver failure with portal hypertension. High serum ferritin concentrations, MRI findings compatible with tissue iron overload and no evidence for infectious disease or inborn errors of metabolism suggested possible neonatal hemochromatosis (NH). HFE gene mutation analysis studies of the child and parents were negative. An anti-oxidative and iron chelating therapy was introduced, followed by clinical stabilisation of the newborn and normalisation of liver function. The liver biopsy at 4 month of age showed mild fibrosis with a few iron-loaded hepatocytes and macrophages. At 2 years of age the child was virtually healthy., Conclusion: The clinical course of our patient indicates that the pathological changes in the liver being associated with presumptive NH may be reversible when NH is diagnosed early and antioxidative and chelating therapy is immediately initiated.
- Published
- 2008
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