Predictors of outcome in children with acute viral hepatitis and coagulopathy

Summary.  The presence of coagulopathy in acute viral hepatitis (AVH) in children raises issues about prognosis and need for liver transplantation. We evaluated factors predicting outcome in such patients and determined the applicability of the paediatric acute liver failure study group (PALFSG) definition of acute liver failure (ALF) of coagulopathy alone in comparison with coagulopathy and encephalopathy. Children with AVH (clinical features, raised transaminases and positive viral serology) with uncorrectable coagulopathy [prothrombin time (PT) > 15 s] with or without hepatic encephalopathy (HE) were enrolled. Comparative analysis was based on (i) outcome: survivors/nonsurvivors and (ii) ALF criteria: group A coagulopathy (PT > 15 s) and encephalopathy and group B coagulopathy (PT > 20 s). We studied 130 children (86 boys, mean age 7.5 ± 4.5 years): 86 recovered and 44 died. Single virus infection was present in 96 (74%), hepatitis A being the commonest (n‐69). On multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis, age <3.5 years, serum bilirubin ≥16.7 mg/dL, PT ≥ 40.5 s and clinical signs of cerebral oedema were independent predictors of mortality. Mortality increased from 0% with single to 100% with four risk factors. Ninety‐seven cases met the PALFSG criteria: group A‐79 and group B‐18. Group A subjects had higher mortality (55.6%vs 0%) and poorer liver functions (bilirubin 18.1 ± 8.9 vs 13.8 ± 6.9 mg/dL, PT 63.9 ± 35.1 vs 27.2 ± 5.2 s) than group B. PT deteriorated significantly with the appearance and progression of HE. One‐third of children with AVH with coagulopathy die without transplantation. Age <3.5 years, bilirubin ≥16.7 mg/dL, PT ≥ 40.5 s and signs of cerebral oedema are predictors of poor outcome. Children with encephalopathy and coagulopathy have a poorer outcome than those with coagulopathy alone.