Isovaleric acidemia is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of leucine metabolism. Two phenotypes with either an acute neonatal or a chronic intermittent presentation were described. The acute type is observed more frequently and is more fatal. We report the case of a girl in childhood who presented with hyperglycemia and metabolic acidosis with an increased anion gap; and preliminarily diagnosed as diabetic ketoacidosis, but further investigation revealed chronic intermittent isovaleric academia. This case is of interest because of the rarity of this presentation. The importance of thinking for inborn errors of metabolism in children with metabolic acidosis in late childhood is emphasized.

Objective: To determine clinical features, etiology and risk factors in term and near term newborns with severe hyperbilirubinemia. Methods: During ten years period (2000 - 2009), infants of ≥ 35 gestational weeks who received phototherapy were evaluated retrospectively. The study population was divided into two groups and clinical features, etiology and risk factors were compared. Group 1 defined by those who had bilirubin level ≥25 mg/dl (severe hyperbilirubinemia) and group 2 defined by bilirubin level <25 mg/dl. Results: During the study period 1335 babies were evaluated. Severe hyperbilirubinemia was found in 137 (10.3%) patients. Total serum bilirubin level was 29.7±4.7 mg/dl in group 1 and 18.9±3.5 mg/dl in group 2. Pathological weight loss, vaginal delivery and supplementary feeding were identified as significant risk factors for development of severe hyperbilirubinemia (p <0.001, p <0.001 and p = 0.04, respectively). The time at recognition of jaundice by family and postnatal age at admission were significantly higher in group 1. The ratios of previous sibling received phototherapy and being the second child or after were found higher in group 1. Conclusion: Pathological weight loss, vaginal delivery and supplementary feeding were determined as risk factors for development of severe hyperbilirubinemia. The newborns with severe hyperbilirubinemia had late recognition of jaundice and admission to hospital by their families.

The etiology of acute liver failure varies widely in children, but the most common causes are viral hepatitis, drugs, and toxins. We report herein a case of autoimmune hepatitis and acute liver failure caused by leptospirosis, which is involved rarely in etiology.