1 - Serviço de Pediatria, Centro Hospitalar do Médio Tejo, E.P.E, Torres Novas, Portugal,
2 - Serviço de Pediatria, Centro Hospitalar do Médio Tejo, E.P.E., Torres Novas, Portugal,
3 - Serviço de Pediatria, Unidade de Gastroenterologia Pediátrica, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, EPE, Lisboa, Portugal.
- Pediatric Oncall Journal, Volume : 21, Issue 3:121-123, DOI: https://doi.org/10.7199/ped.oncall.2024.29
RESUMO:
The authors report a case of a 7-year-old white female child with respiratory infection caused by influenza A, who developed right after autoimmune hepatitis. Influenza A virus may have acted as an environmental trigger. Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare disease in children, which can progress to cirrhosis and/or liver failure if not recognized and treated early. Despite the unknown etiology, genetic factors and environmental triggers like viral infections are contributory. Diagnosis is based on laboratory markers (hypertransaminasemia, hypergammaglobulinemia, circulating autoantibodies) and characteristic histology, after exclusion of other etiologies. The investigation carried out highlights hypergammaglobulinemia, ANA (1:320) and biopsy suggestive of autoimmune hepatitis. Treatment with prednisolone and later azathioprine was started, with a favourable response. Emphasizing the importance of early initiation of treatment, allowing in most cases a good long-term prognosis.