The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently reported that there has been increased incidence of unexplained acute hepatitis in children since January 2022. Several children required emergency liver transplantation. Scientific discussion centered around adenovirus as a possible cause. 

To address these concerns about a true rise in cases, the ERN RARE-LIVER conducted a survey in collaboration with the working group on acute liver failure. While clinicians have raised awareness about the possibility of hepatitis of unknown origin, results indicate that only a minority of patients carry an actual infection with adenovirus within the whole group of children with acute hepatitis. Collectively, the alarming observations from the United Kingdom could not be confirmed.

Small role adenovirus

“The initial figures put our minds at ease, but it is important to keep an eye on further developments,” said De Kleine. He is leading this project within the working group of acute liver failure. “We have a very limited number of children with a possible role for the adenovirus in a much larger group of children with acute liver failure. We recognize this clinical entity of acute liver failure from the previous years and we know how to deal with it. We should monitor carefully whether the numbers increase and look more closely into the cases that we have documented.”

Changes in immune system

According to researchers in this study it is likely that lockdown and other pandemic restrictions implemented internationally have led to changes in children’s immune systems and their ability to defend against common viruses. De Kleine: "There are isolated and rare cases where there has been a disturbance in the balance between the immune system and a virus like the adenovirus. However, these cases seem to be extremely rare and there is currently no evidence indicating that a new and dangerous form of hepatitis is spreading.”