Hepatic involvement in perinatal asphyxia.
BACKGROUND
The pathogenetic mechanisms of hepatic injury in perinatal asphyxia (PNA) are similar to those in ischemic hepatitis, yet liver involvement is currently not considered a component of multi-organ failure in PNA.


METHODS
A retrospective study was done on 56 newborns with PNA. Hepatocyte injury was diagnosed based on elevated serum alanine transaminase level (>100 U/L, twice upper normal) with subsequent normalization.


CONCLUSIONS
Twenty-two of the patients had hepatocyte injury. Fetal distress, thrombocytopenia, convulsions, pathologic findings on imaging of the central nervous system, and a high rate of intrauterine growth retardation were the factors significantly associated with hepatocyte injury. This damage was also associated with high mortality.
Department of Pediatrics, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. aylint@baskent-ank.edu.tr
Aylin
A
Tarcan
Filiz
F
Tiker
Hakan
H
Güvenir
Berkan
B
Gürakan
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000453:epidemiology; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000453:epidemiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures
D000410:Alanine Transaminase