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Original articles |
1 Bnai Zion Medical Center, Israel
2 Carmel Medical Center, Israel
3 Meyer Children's Hospital, Israel
4 Technion Faculty of Medicine, Israel
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: shaoul_r{at}012.net.il.
Accepted 18 July 2007
 | Abstract |
|---|
Introduction: Incidental findings of isolated elevation of serum aminotransferases in infants and young children are not infrequent. Unlike adults, there are no protocols for evaluating these patients. The aim of the study was to assess the clinical significance and prognosis of a prolonged isolated elevation of serum aminotransferases without cholestasis (>3months) in infants and young children, investigated for a variety of conditions, and to determine a protocol for their follow-up and investigation.
Methods: A combined prospective-retrospective analysis of apparently healthy babies and young children with isolated elevation of serum aminotransferases of at least 1.5 times above the norm for age, which persisted for at least 3 months and whose CK, GGT, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin levels remained normal throughout the study duration. The children underwent the following investigations: abdominal US, infectious- metabolic-immunological investigation depending on the duration of the abnormality.
Results: Six children were eliminated following the finding of positive CMV antigen in the urine. 72 children were investigated, 47 males and 25 females. The duration of serum aminotransferases elevation was 3-36 months, (average 12.4, median 11.5 mo). The initial, maximal and final ALT values were 85.5 IU/L, 140.5 IU/L and 39.8 IU/L respectively. Out of 7 liver biopsies performed, 3 (42.8%) were suspected of having a glycogen storage disease which was not confirmed enzymatically. Four had non-specific histological changes.
Conclusions: isolated elevation of serum aminotransferases in healthy looking young children is mostly a benign condition that usually resolves within a year. If no pathology is found during routine investigation, these children can be followed conservatively. Liver biopsy does not contribute much to the diagnosis and is probably unnecessary.
Keywords: aminotransferases, children, cholestasis, infants, liver enzymes
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