Pattern of liver diseases in Sudanese children

ABSTRACT

We aimed at determining the pattern and the incidence of liver disease in the Sudanese children referred to the Gastroenterology unit as Gaafar Ibn Oaf Specialized Children Hospital, which has not been studied before. In a cross-sectional study conducted over 5 years, 450 liver needle biopsies were sent to the pathology laboratory of our center. Slides were prepared from paraffin-embedded blocks, stained by routine H and E and special stains and were then reviewed. The frequency of each disorder, separately and in combination with the age group or gender of the patient were compared with other similar studies. The male to female ration was 1.51. The age range between 1 month and 15 years old and 42% were less than 1 year old. The most common histological diagnosis was liver cirrhosis where no specific cause could be found [26%] followed by neonatal hepatitis [20%], fatty liver [12%], billary Atresia [10%], chornic hepatitis [8%], metabolic liver disease [6%], Progressive Intrahepatic Cholestasis [5.5], non specific pathological changes [4.4%] and Hepato Cellular Carcinoma in [4%]. A liver biopsy is a useful and practical tool for the appropriate diagnosis of pediatric liver diseases. We found that Idiopathic Liver Cirrhosis, Neonatal Hepatitis, Fatty Liver, Billary Atresia and Chronic Hepatitis in the stated order are the most prevalent histological diagnosis in Sudanese children. Hepatocellular Carcinoma is significantly high in our pediatrics population