Hepatic involvement in perinatal asphyxia

Abstract

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.Results and 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.