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S M Protheroe

Publications and source records attributed to S M Protheroe.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Feeding the child with chronic liver disease.

Protein energy malnutrition leading to growth failure is an inevitable consequence of chronic liver disease in 60% of children. Malnutrition should be anticipated by serial anthropometric assessment and prevented by early intervention with nutritional support. Both morbidity and mortality postliver transplantation have been related to the degree of pretransplant malnutrition, and thus nutritional status is an important risk factor for survival postliver transplantation. As survival following pediatric liver transplantation improves, with most centers reporting 1 y survival rates of 90-95% and 5 y survival rates of 80-85%, attention has focused on achieving nutritional rehabilitation, normal psychosocial development, and normal quality of life. An understanding of the etiology of protein malnutrition in liver disease is essential when planning therapeutic strategies. Considerable research progress has been made exploring the pathophysiology of malnutrition, including long-chain fat malabsorption with essential fatty acid deficiency, abnormal energy metabolism, substrate utilization, and nitrogen metabolism in liver disease. Effective strategies are emerging and future advances include docosahexaenioc acid, branched chain amino acids, and structured lipids. The key to success is a multidisciplinary approach to nutritional intervention, including pediatric dietitian, liaison nurse, feeding psychologist, and clinician.

Child, Preschool↗

Cholestasis and end-stage liver disease.

Protein-energy malnutrition is an inevitable consequence of chronic liver disease, particularly in the developing infant. Severe malnutrition with loss of fat stores and muscle wasting affects between 60% and 80% of infants with liver disease (Beath, 1993a; Holt et al, 1997). Reduced energy intake secondary to anorexia, vomiting and fat malabsorption, in association with a disordered metabolism of carbohydrate and protein, increased energy requirements and vitamin and mineral deficiencies, contributes towards growth failure. Reversal of malnutrition is one of the key aims of liver transplantation and is achieved in the majority of long-term survivors. The aetiology of persistent growth failure post-transplantation is multifactorial and is related to pre-operative malnutrition, glucocorticoid administration, feeding problems and post-operative complications. Strategies to prevent pre- and post-transplant growth failure include early referral for liver transplantation and a multidisciplinary approach to nutritional support, which may increase survival and improve the quality of life and outcome of liver transplantation.

Child↗

Imaging in influenza A encephalitis.

Two cases of influenza A encephalitis seen during an outbreak of influenza types A/England/427/88 (H3N2) and A/Taiwan/1/86 (H1N1) in December 1989 are described. In both children the encephalitis developed within three days of the respiratory symptoms and both became comatose within 48 hours. Virological studies showed that the patients had had a recent influenza A infection. Symmetrical localised hypodense lesions within the thalami and pons were demonstrated in both cases on computed tomography of the brain and striking findings in the pons in one case on magnetic resonance imaging. Influenza A encephalitis is not easy to recognise clinically and serological confirmation can only be made after 10 days. Imaging may provide evidence in the acute stage to support a diagnosis of influenza encephalitis during influenza outbreaks.

Brain↗