Neonatal hepatitis: a follow-up study.

Fifty-six patients with moderate to severe neonatal hepatitis were followed for 12 to 78 months. Two died from causes other than hepatitis itself and were free from liver disease at the time of death. Of the remaining 54 patients, seven died of hepatitis, two are living with chronic liver disease and psychomotor retardation, and 45 are living without liver disease. High peak bilirubin levels and liver histologic findings of periportal fibrosis, moderate to severe portal inflammation, and/or diffuse giant cell transformation appear to be major factors predictive for poor outcome. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was a common associated infection. Evidence of CMV infection was found in 22 (49%) of the 45 patients studied. Three of them died, and one is still living with cirrhosis of the liver. Metabolic disorders such as alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, galactosemia, and aminoaciduria and/or aminoacidemia were carefully screened but were not found in these cases. A fatal case had a sibling who had died of a similar disease course. Chinese infants may have metabolic and familial cholestasis diseases requiring further investigation.