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Archer S, Davies K. Biological basis of child health 9: development of the liver and clinical features of childhood liver disease. Nurs Child Young People 2021; 33:34-42. [PMID: 33682393 DOI: 10.7748/ncyp.2021.e1258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This article is the ninth in a series on the biological basis of child health and follows on from the previous article, which discussed the gastrointestinal system. The liver is the largest solid organ in the body and has more than 500 functions. These functions include: producing bile, which serves as a vehicle for waste products and as an aid for the digestion of dietary fat; synthesising most coagulation factors, needed in the clotting cascade; and transforming glycogen into glucose for use as energy in cell metabolism. While most liver conditions seen in children are rare, it is important that children's nurses can identify the clinical features of childhood liver disease. This article provides an overview of the embryological development of the liver, its anatomy and functions, liver function tests in children, and the clinical features and pathophysiology of childhood liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Archer
- child health, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, England
| | - Kate Davies
- London South Bank University and honorary research fellow in paediatric endocrinology, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, England
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Santos Silva E, Almeida A, Frutuoso S, Martins E, Valente MJ, Santos-Silva A, Lopes AI. Neonatal Cholestasis Over Time: Changes in Epidemiology and Outcome in a Cohort of 154 Patients From a Portuguese Tertiary Center. Front Pediatr 2020; 8:351. [PMID: 32695736 PMCID: PMC7338938 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.00351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: In the last two decades there have been advances in the diagnosis and management of neonatal cholestasis, which may have changed its epidemiology, diagnostic accuracy, outcomes, and survival. Our goal was to characterize these changes over time in our setting. Methods: Retrospective cohort study in a tertiary center, enrolling patients born between January 1985 and October 2019. The cohort was divided into two periods, before (A; n = 67) and after (B; n = 87) the year 2000; and in two groups, according to patient's outcome (favorable, unfavorable). Overall survival and survival with and without orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) were evaluated in the two periods (A and B) and in different subgroups of underlying entities. Results: We found that the age of cholestasis recognition decreased significantly from period A to period B [median 43 days and 22 days, respectively, (p < 0.001)]; the changes in epidemiology were relevant, with a significant decrease in alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (p < 0.001) and an increase in transient cholestasis (p = 0.004). A next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel available since mid-2017 was applied to 13 patients with contributory results in 7, but, so far, only in 2 patients led to conclusive diagnosis of underlying entities. The number of cases of idiopathic cholestasis did not vary significantly. Over time there was no significant change in the outcome (p = 0.116). Overall survival and survival without OLT had no significant improvement during the period of observation (in periods A and B, 86 vs. 88%, and 85 vs. 87%, respectively). However, in period B, with OLT we achieved the goal of 100% of survival rate. Conclusions: Our data suggest that transient cholestasis became a very important subset of neonatal cholestasis, requiring specific guidance. The NGS panels can provide important inputs on disease diagnosis but, if applied without strict criteria and expertise, they can open a Pandora's box due to misinterpretation. Despite all the advances in accurate diagnosis and timely management-including early recognition of cholestasis-the improvement in patient outcomes and survival were still not significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ermelinda Santos Silva
- Paediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Centro Materno-Infantil do Norte, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Integrated Master in Medicine, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Almeida
- Neonatology Unit, Centro Materno-Infantil do Norte, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Simão Frutuoso
- Neonatology Unit, Centro Materno-Infantil do Norte, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Esmeralda Martins
- Integrated Master in Medicine, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Metabolic Diseases Reference Center, Centro Materno-Infantil do Norte, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria João Valente
- UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Alice Santos-Silva
- UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Isabel Lopes
- Paediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal.,Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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Moreira-Silva H, Maio I, Bandeira A, Gomes-Martins E, Santos-Silva E. Metabolic liver diseases presenting with neonatal cholestasis: at the crossroad between old and new paradigms. Eur J Pediatr 2019; 178:515-523. [PMID: 30693370 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-019-03328-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic liver diseases (MLD) are an important group of disorders presenting with neonatal cholestasis (NC). The spectrum of liver involvement is wide and the presumptive diagnosis is traditionally based on clinical and laboratory findings. Recently, next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels have emerged as an appealing tool to diagnose neonatal/infantile cholestatic disorders. The aim of this study was to identify clinical phenotypes of liver injury and contribute to find a diagnostic methodology that integrates new molecular diagnostic tools. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and biochemical features of 16 patients with MLD and NC. Patients were categorized into three groups: A-NC with liver failure (N = 8): tyrosinemia type I (n = 2), classic galactosemia (n = 5), mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (n = 1); B-NC evolving with chronic liver disease (N = 5): argininemia (n = 2); mitochondrial cytopathy (n = 1); congenital disorders of glycosylation type Ia (n = 1); Zellweger syndrome (n = 1); and C-transient NC (N = 3): Niemann-Pick type C (n = 2), citrullinemia type II (n = 1).Conclusion: MLD presenting with NC can be categorized into three main clinical phenotypes of liver injury. We highlight transient NC as a clue for MLD that must be pursued. New molecular diagnostic tools can play a key role, but application criteria must be established to make them cost-effective. What is Known: • Metabolic liver diseases are an important group of disorders presenting with neonatal cholestasis. • The diagnostic approach is challenging and traditionally based on clinical and laboratory findings. Next-generation sequencing is a recent and rapidly developing tool in pediatric hepatology. What is New: • We provide a liver-targeted characterization of metabolic liver diseases presenting with neonatal cholestasis, categorizing them into three clinical phenotypes that may narrow the diagnostic possibilities. • A clinical decision-making algorithm is proposed, in which the NGS technology is integrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Moreira-Silva
- Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Centro Materno Infantil do Norte - CMIN, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Largo da Maternidade de Júlio Dinis, 4050-651, Porto, Portugal
| | - Inês Maio
- Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Centro Materno Infantil do Norte - CMIN, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Largo da Maternidade de Júlio Dinis, 4050-651, Porto, Portugal
| | - Anabela Bandeira
- Pediatric Metabolic Unit, Centro Materno Infantil do Norte - CMIN, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Esmeralda Gomes-Martins
- Pediatric Metabolic Unit, Centro Materno Infantil do Norte - CMIN, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ermelinda Santos-Silva
- Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Centro Materno Infantil do Norte - CMIN, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Largo da Maternidade de Júlio Dinis, 4050-651, Porto, Portugal. .,Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Porto, Portugal.
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