title: [Severe viral hepatitis in childhood: course and prognosis].
abstract: In 22 children with severe acute viral hepatitis, the course of the disease followed 3 patterns: 8 children completely yielded (regenerative hepatitis); 8 died during the first three weeks of evolution (aregenerative hepatitis); 8 had a prolonged evolution (hyporegenerative hepatitis). In the latter group, 6 patients died after an average survival time of 55 days and 2 patients rapidly developped a cirrhosis. This type of evolution was characterized by persistence of liver failure manifestations, in spite of liver regeneration, as indicated by increased levels of alpha-foetoprotein and presence of pseudo-acini, giantcells and nodules at histological examination. During the second week of evolution, the size of liver, levels of clotting factors VII +X and alpha-foetoprotein concentrations seem to constitute important prognostic factors.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005167:Factor VII / Q000378:metabolism; D005170:Factor X / Q000378:metabolism; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D011379:Prognosis; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D005167:Factor VII; D005170:Factor X
vernacular_title: Hepatites virales severes de l'enfant: evolution et pronostic.