Abstract

COSTAGUTA, Alejandro  and  ALVAREZ, Fernando. The new paradigm of neonatal hemochromatosis: fetal alloimmune hepatitis. Arch. argent. pediatr. [online]. 2012, vol.110, n.3, pp.237-243. ISSN 0325-0075.

The classical model of neonatal hemochromatosis was based on the analogy with hereditary hemochromatosis. Medical treatment consisted on the antioxidant-chelator cocktail. The new hypothesis of an alloimmune origin of the process by which the pregnant woman mounts an IgG-based destructive response against fetal hepatocytes offers a pathogenic explanation, allowing treatment to be focused on the immunological aspects, with excellent results, and opens the possibility of preventive treatment in future pregnancies. This new paradigm produces a deep impact in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of the disease, that should be called "fetal alloimmune hepatitis".

Keywords : Hemochromatosis; Neonatal; Hepatitis; Alloimmune.

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