The coming of age of a young subspecialty: paediatric hepatology

Abstract

Paediatric hepatology dates from the 1970s and it is the youngest of the organ-specific subspecialties. As then there have been impressive achievements in the fields of anatomical, metabolic, immunological and neoplastic diseases, and the advent of modern molecular biology has resulted in a marked increase in exact diagnoses. Liver transplants provided enormous stimulus for the discipline. Due to changing morbidity patterns, the discipline faces new challenges, such as environment-and lifestyle-induced liver diseases, but different forms of chronic viral hepatitis are diminishing. Conclusion: High levels of competence require good clinical research, optimal results and a high degree of centralisation.

Highlights in this issue

“…During its short history, there have been impressive improvements in the diagnosis, treatment and morbidity of children with liver disease. In his review, Németh describes how the use of molecular biology has resulted in an increase in exact diagnoses and highlights how liver transplants have provided an enormous stimulus for the discipline . Due to changing morbidity patterns, the discipline now faces new challenges, such as liver diseases induced by environmental and lifestyle factors, but different forms of chronic viral hepatitis are diminishing.…”