VITAMIN E DEFICIENCY IN EARLY ONSET LIVER DISEASE AFFECTS MENTAL DEVELOPEMNT

We compared mental function and growth in 10 children (ages: 5-13 yrs) with end stage liver disease whose onset was in the first year of life (x age onset 0.3 yrs; range 1-12 months). Five children had chronic cholestasis: bilirubin 27±8 mg/dl, vitamin E 0.8±0.7 μg/ml, albumin 2.9±.5 g/dl; the other five were not cholestatic: bilirubin 1.5±.8 mg/dl, vitamin E 12.4±6.5 μg/ml, albumin 3.8±.4 g/dl. Mean age at onset, duration of symptoms, and age at testing were similar at both groups. Wechsler Scales of Intelligence provided Verbal (VIQ), Performance (PIQ) and Full Scale (FSIQ) IQs. Percent of median (NCHS standards) for weight (W) and height (H) for age (W/A, H/A) and U for H (W/H) were also Obtained.