Clinical Characteristics of Primary Epstein Barr Virus Hepatitis with Elevation of Alkaline Phosphatase and gamma-Glutamyltransferase in Children.
10.3349/ymj.2014.55.1.107
- Author:
Soo In YANG
1
;
Jwa Hye GEONG
;
Jae Young KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea. pedkim@cnuh.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Primary Epstein-Barr virus hepatitis;
alkaline phosphatase;
gamma-glutamyltransferase;
children
- MeSH:
Alkaline Phosphatase/genetics/*metabolism;
Child;
Child, Preschool;
Female;
Hepatitis/*enzymology/*pathology/virology;
Herpesvirus 4, Human/*pathogenicity;
Humans;
Infant;
Male;
gamma-Glutamyltransferase/genetics/*metabolism
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2014;55(1):107-112
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of the primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) hepatitis with elevation of both serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) levels in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed by reviewing of the medical records of 36 patients who were diagnosed with primary EBV hepatitis. The patients were divided into 2 groups: patients with elevated serum ALP and gamma-GT levels (group 1) and patients without (group 2). RESULTS: The classic features of infectious mononucleosis (fever, pharyngitis and/or tonsillitis, and cervical lymphadenitis) were seen in 20 (57.1%) of group 1 patients and 18 (50.0%) of group 2 patients. Hepatitis with elevated serum ALP and gamma-GT levels were present in 14 (38.9%) of the all patients. Of these patients, Jaundice occurred in only 2 (5.6%). The mean levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as well as the number of patients with ALT greater than 400 IU/L were significantly different between the groups (177 IU/L vs. 94 IU/L, 418 IU/L vs. 115 IU/L, and 50.0% vs. 13.6%; p=0.001, p=0.001, p=0.026, respectively). The mean duration of elevated serum ALT levels was 17.5 days in group 1 and 9.0 days in group 2 (p=0.013). All patients recovered fully without any chronic or serious complications. CONCLUSION: Primary EBV hepatitis with predominant biochemical abnormalities of the elevation of ALP and gamma-GT is frequent and mostly anicteric. This may represent a benign disease, but a delay in recovery of liver function as well.
