Biogenic amine status in acute fulminant hepatocellular failure in children.

This study involved pediatric cases with Acute fulminant hepatocellular failure (AFHF) put on conventional therapy at the Hospital for children, Madras. In these cases, the biogenic amine status was studied at the time of admission, during therapy and at the time of recovery in responders. The CSF 5-HT, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and Homovanillic acid (HVA), blood 5-HT and 5-HIAA, and urinary 5-HIAA followed almost a similar pattern of changes during the course of AFHF: increase at precoma, further increase at coma, return towards control at recovery.