Fulminant hepatic failure in childhood

[Serious acute hepatocellular insufficiency in children: EEG prognostic features]

Fulminant Hepatic Failure (FHF) in children leads to 60 to 90% of mortality without age influence, depending on the studies. Twenty-two children with this disease had daily EEG, 15 died, seven survived. The neurological electroclinical study evidenced a stereotyped evolution of the EEG anomalies which were not age-related, but correlated to clinical stages of coma and to severe coagulation disorders; 5/22 children with clinical and/or EEG convulsive disorders died. One child exhibited triphasic slow waves and died from paracetamol intoxication. A prospective study of a larger population could help to recognize factors of decision for hepatic transplantation.