Neonatal liver failure.
Liver failure in the neonatal period is challenging to diagnose and manage, and still carries a high mortality. With ongoing developments in the field of metabolic disorders and antiviral therapy, and the ability to offer liver transplantation to small babies, an overall survival of 40% has been achieved. Early recognition of liver failure, good supportive care and prompt referral to a paediatric liver transplant centre are essential elements in improving the outcome for these babies. Decisions about contra-indications to and timing of transplantation are complex as many of the disease processes are still evolving in the neonatal period, and extrahepatic disease, which cannot be corrected by a transplant, may appear later.
Children's Liver and GI Unit, St James's, University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK. patricia.mcclean@leedsth.nhs.uk
Patricia
P
McClean
Suzanne M
SM
Davison
D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*