Review Article- Malarial hepatopathy

Jaundice is a common clinical presentation in severe malaria, seen in approximately 2.5% patients with falciparuminfection but hepatitis is unusual. Although hepatic dysfunction is unusual and hepatic encephalopathy is almostnever seen in malaria, yet, cases of hepatic dysfunction are being increasingly reported in patients with P.falciparum infection, from different parts of world. The extent of hepatocellular dysfunction varies from mildabnormalities in liver function tests to hepatic failure. Patients with hepatocellular dysfunction in malaria aremore prone to develop complications, but have a favorable outcome if hepatic involvement is recognized earlyand managed properly. It is important to meticulously look for hepatic dysfunction in patients with severemalaria, distinguish it from fulminant hepatic failure and manage it aggressively.

Keywords
Fulminant hepatic failure, malaria, malarial hepatitis, P. falciparum infection