Neurological Complications and Cognitive Function after Pediatric Living Related Liver Transplantation

Abstract Background Neurological complications in the post liver transplantation period increase morbidity and mortality, with most of them occurring within the first 1– 3 months. Many studies have found that long-term neurocognitive development in children after liver transplantation is not ideal. Aim and Objectives The aim of the study was to assess the frequency, types and risk factors for neurological complications among children who underwent liver transplantation and to determine the cognitive functions of those children after liver transplantation. Subjects and Methods fifty patients who underwent living related liver transplantation as well as fifty controls of same age and sex were recruited to the study, medical records were revised including history of any symptoms suggestive of neurological affection in the post-operative period (type, timing, imaging, prognosis). Neurological examination was done as well as cognitive assessment by Wechsler intelligence scale. Result Twenty percent of the studied cases with mean age11.58 ± 3.07 years (male 62%) (females 38%) had neurological complications; most common presentation was seizures 18%. All complications occurred in first fifty days after liver transplantation. Neurological examination at time of study showed that all patents resolved completely except one patient who is still on treatment) mean duration post liver transplantation was 3.5 years). Cognitive assessment revealed a potential decrease in verbal comprehension and significant decreases in perceptual reasoning, working memory, and full-scale IQ in the cases group compared to controls p value = 0.01 Conclusion current research suggests that neurological complications in liver transplanted children is not uncommon. Those children are at higher risk for developing cognitive deficits compared to the age-matched normal population.