Pediatric Metabolic Liver Disease
As metabolic liver disease is genetic, you child will not outgrow his disorder. But the condition can improve with age with optimal care and treatment.
What is Pediatric Metabolic Liver Disease?
Metabolic liver disease is a disorder in which abnormal chemical reactions in the body disrupt the body’s metabolism. When this happens, the body has too much of some substances or too little of others to stay healthy.
What are the different types of Pediatric Metabolic Liver Disease?
There are several kinds of metabolic liver disease in children, including:
Crigler-Najjar syndrome
Dubin-Johnson syndrome
Gilbert’s disease
Hemochromatosis
Wilson disease
What are the signs and symptoms of Pediatric Metabolic Liver Disease?
Symptoms of metabolic liver disease will vary based on the type of disease, but may include:
How is Pediatric Metabolic Liver Disease diagnosed?
There are a few tests to diagnose metabolic liver disease in children. A doctor will go over your child's medical history and perform a physical exam. Your healthcare provider may also perform one or more of the following tests:
Blood tests
Liver biopsy
Not every child needs all tests. Your physician will discuss with you exactly what the next steps are.
How is Pediatric Metabolic Liver Disease treated?
The type of metabolic liver disease will determine your child's treatment. Your healthcare provider may recommend one or more of the following treatments:
Dietary changes to decrease the amount of certain substances being ingested (such as iron and copper)
Medications to release excess substances from the organs into the bloodstream so that they can be eliminated
Phlebotomy (drawing blood) to remove excess substances from the blood
Phototherapy to reduce the amount of bilirubin in the body
Pediatric Metabolic Liver Disease Doctors and Providers
