Childhood liver diseases in Ga-Rankuwa Hospital, South Africa.

OBJECTIVE To determine the pattern of liver diseases diagnosed in children at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital Histopathology Laboratory. DESIGN A retrospective study. SETTING Ga-Rankuwa Histopathology Laboratory. SUBJECTS Seventy two patients who underwent a liver biopsy during the study period. METHODS Laboratory records were reviewed and all liver biopsies were extracted. All slides were reviewed by the author to confirm the diagnoses. The findings were compared with similar studies elsewhere. RESULTS Biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis were the most common diseases. Metabolic liver diseases were rarely encountered. CONCLUSION Neonatal hepatitis and biliary atresia are not uncommon amongst children who underwent liver biopsy at this hospital.