title: Cytomegalovirus hepatitis in 49 pediatric patients with normal immunity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) hepatitis is generally asymptomatic or rarely can lead to severe complications in immunocompetent hosts. This study aims to evaluate CMV hepatitis in immunocompetent young children, which is discussed relatively rarely in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 49 pediatric patients with CMV hepatitis from January 2005 to December 2010 was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of the patients was 5.81 ± 6.49 months and 57.1% were female. Complaints were prolonged jaundice, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal distension. Seventeen patients (34.6%) had congenital or probable congenital CMV infection, while 32/49 (65.3%) had perinatal CMV infection. CMV hepatitis was accompanied by other system findings in 22 patients (44.9%), and only liver involvement was present in 27/49 (55.1%). Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were elevated together in all patients. Cholestatic hepatitis was present in 13 patients (26.5%). Four patients (8.16%) were treated with ganciclovir. Complete improvement of hepatitis occurred in 48/49 (97.95%). The recovery time of liver function tests was 7-180 days (mean: 53.92 ± 40.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CMV hepatitis is usually mild and has a good outcome in immunocompetent individuals. However, cases should be carefully evaluated due to the important role of CMV in the etiology of infantile and neonatal hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tezer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Ankara Hematology Oncology Children's Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Saliha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanık Yüksek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Ankara Hematology Oncology Children's Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Belgin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gülhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Ankara Hematology Oncology Children's Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aslı Nur
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Özkaya Parlakay
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Ankara Hematology Oncology Children's Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ceyda
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tuna Kırsaçlıoğlu
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D003587:Cytomegalovirus; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections; D005260:Female; D015774:Ganciclovir; D006505:Hepatitis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015774:Ganciclovir
keywords: Cytomegalovirus; children; hepatitis; immunocompetent