Extent of measles hepatitis in various ages

Abstract

To assess extent of hepatic involvement in measles, we evaluated prospectively 144 patients (ages 0.2 to 43 years) during an outbreak. Liver function parameters (AST, ALT, serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and bilirubin) were determined on presentation and at 2 and 4 weeks. The study comprised 52 pediatric (less than or equal to 14 years) and 92 adult patients. Liver dysfunction was evident quite often (56 to 66%) in adult patients. However, in the pediatric age group, these abnormalities were less frequent and less extensive. Moreover, a significant correlation was noted between age and each of the following parameters: AST (r = 0.61), ALT (r = 0.56) and serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (r = 0.39). In all subjects all parameters normalized after 2 to 4 weeks. The data presented suggest that hepatic dysfunction in measles is probably not rare and is more frequent and more extensive in adults. However, these abnormalities seem to be subclinical, self-limited and probably with no long-term sequelae.

Clinicopathological Study on Liver Dysfunction in Measles.

“…Hepatocellular dysfunction is much more frequent (4). Overtjaundice is very uncommon and has been reported only in a few cases (4,7,13,14). Also, in our cases,jaundice was not observed.…”

“…Since then hepatitis in measles has been often reported in the European and American literature (1)(2)(3)(4). It occurs more frequently in adolescents and young adults (5,7,13). The presumption is that the incidence of liver dysfunction in measles is much lower than 80% (7).…”

Measles in the United Kingdom: can we eradicate it by 2010?

“…Clinical hepatitis and asymptomatic hypocalcaemia may occur and are seen more often in adults than in children 20 . w11 w12 …”

O Measles-Associated Acute Acalculous Cholecystitis

“…Although measles has been often associated with hepatitis [4][5][6], this is to our knowledge, the first case of measles-related AAC.…”