Extent of measles hepatitis in various ages.

To assess extent of hepatic involvement in measles, we evaluated prospectively 144 patients (ages 0.2 to 43 years) during an outbreak. Liver function parameters (AST, ALT, serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and bilirubin) were determined on presentation and at 2 and 4 weeks. The study comprised 52 pediatric (less than or equal to 14 years) and 92 adult patients. Liver dysfunction was evident quite often (56 to 66%) in adult patients. However, in the pediatric age group, these abnormalities were less frequent and less extensive. Moreover, a significant correlation was noted between age and each of the following parameters: AST (r = 0.61), ALT (r = 0.56) and serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (r = 0.39). In all subjects all parameters normalized after 2 to 4 weeks. The data presented suggest that hepatic dysfunction in measles is probably not rare and is more frequent and more extensive in adults. However, these abnormalities seem to be subclinical, self-limited and probably with no long-term sequelae.