Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in childs who underwent liver transplantation

Objective:. Although attention deficits have been identified in previously conducted studies in children with hepatic impairment, studies investigating the relationship between Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder and Liver Transplantation are limited in the literature. In our study, we planned to investigate the frequency of ADHD in children with liver transplantation and the possible causes of this disorder. Material and Method: Sixty-two children aged between six and eighteen years, who had liver transplantation between 2003 and 2015 in BÜTF Hospital was participated in the study. Primary diagnoses, age of transplantation, duration of pre-transplantation illness, duration of hospitalization and intensive care unit before and after transplantation, Child Pugh and PELD scores, donor type, prematurity, history of low birth weight, convulsion, familial epilepsy and maternal smoking during pregnancy was recorded. K-SADS (Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Aged Children–Kiddie-SADS-Present and Lifetime Version ) was performed on all children and their parents by the clinical interviewer who is a specialist in child and adolescent mental health and DSM IV Axis 1 diagnosis was determined. Patients were evaluated with Conners' Parent-Teacher Rating Scale (CPRS - CPTS). Results: Six of the 62 patients (9.7%) were diagnosed with ADHD. Two of these patients' primary diagnosis was Alagille syndrome, two patients had familial hypercholesterolemia, one had biliary atresia and one patient had tyrosinemia. 4% of the girls in the sample (1/25); 13,5% of men (5/37) were diagnosed with ADHD. The only patient who was diagnosed with inattentive type of ADHD was female, while the other five were male. Four patients had combined type of ADHD and one patient had hyperactive-impulsive type of ADHD. There was no relationship between primary diagnoses, age of transplantation, duration of pre-transplantation illness, duration of hospitalization and intensive care unit before and after transplantation, Child Pugh and PELD scores, donor type, prematurity, history of low birth weight, convulsion, familial epilepsy and maternal smoking during pregnancy and ADHD. As the duration and number of post-transplantation hospitalization during the following years, hyperactivity scores increased in the Conners test conducted by teachers. (r: 0.273 p: 0.046) Conclusion: In our study the rate of ADHD was slightly higher than the proportion of community-based studies and lower than studies conducted with children with liver transplants. This suggests the effects of hepatic transplantation on cognitive function and attention. This study is the first study to investigate ADHD in children with liver transplants in our country. We suggest simultaneous consideration of physical health and mental health in patients with organ transplantation and problems should be intervened in time. Key