TY - JOUR T1 - Evaluation of liver function tests in the paediatric patient JO - Anales de Pediatría (English Edition) T2 - AU - Fernández Ventureira,Víctor AU - Ros Arnal,Ignacio AU - Rodríguez Martínez,Gerardo AU - García Rodríguez,Beatriz AU - García Romero,Ruth AU - Ubalde Sainz,Eduardo SN - 23412879 M3 - 10.1016/j.anpede.2020.06.014 DO - 10.1016/j.anpede.2020.06.014 UR - https://www.analesdepediatria.org/en-evaluation-liver-function-tests-in-articulo-S2341287921000946 AB - IntroductionAlthough changes in liver function tests can be non-specific in numerous clinical conditions, they can be the first sign of a potentially serious disease in an asymptomatic patient. Material and methodsRetrospective cohort study, performed by reviewing the records of children of a reference hospital central laboratory with alanine aminotransferase enzyme (ALT) elevation during a 6-month aleatory period. Results572 blood tests with serum ALT elevation corresponding to 403 patients have been assessed during the period studied. 98 patients were excluded for presenting abnormal liver test before the study period of comorbidity that could produce ALT elevation. The remaining 305 patients, 22.6% were diagnosed with a medical condition during the first blood test that explained the ALT elevation, although only 33.3% of them were followed up until verifying their normalisation. Final study sample consists of 236 patients with abnormal liver test without apparent liver disease. Adequate follow-up was found only in 29% of them. From this group, 9 patients (13%) were diagnosed with liver disease. The rest of the samples were not properly monitored. In patients with higher serum ALT levels, follow-up was early and more appropriate. ConclusionsIn our area, most children without apparent liver disease are no properly monitored. Therefore, an opportunity to diagnosis and treat a potential liver disease was lost in a great number of children. All children with unexplained hypertransaminasaemia must be studied. ER -