Gestational Alloimune Liver Disease-Case Report

Overview

Journal Children (Basel)

Specialty Health Services

Date 2023 Jan 21

PMID 36670617

Authors

Mihaela Demetrian

Radu Botezatu

Nicolae Gica

Valentina Safta

Georgeta Grecu

Vlad Dima

Andreea Daniela Binisor

Anca Panaitescu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We describe the case of a newborn with the antenatal onset of hepatic failure, which has been investigated for all etiologies that can cause liver damage: infectious, metabolic, genetic, and immune. The lack of a clear answer regarding the etiology and the response to immunoglobulin therapy led us to the diagnosis of gestational alloimmune liver disease. Gestational alloimunne liver disease is an uncommon and very severe cause of neonatal acute liver failure (NALF). Initially, the therapeutic approach aimed at correcting the effects produced by iron loading, respectively, iron chelators and antioxidants. Since all aspects of this case indicated characteristic features typical for GALD, therapy with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) was introduced. If such therapy alters the prognosis of newborns with GALD, the etiology and pathophysiology remain uncertain. However, in cases regarding severe hepatic failure with the perinatal onset and apparently unknown etiology, immunoglobulin or exchange transfusion therapy should be taken into account even before finalizing all the etiological investigations. The prognosis is uncertain and varies between clinical resolution, chronic hepatitis/cirrhosis, and the need for a hepatic transplant, and overall survival depends on prompt therapeutic intervention.

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