Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42340130›Full record

ArticleInfluenza and other respiratory viruses2026

Hypertransaminasemia Is a Marker of Severity in Children Hospitalized for Influenza.

Marco Poeta, Cristina Moracas, Elisabetta Venturini, Sofia Sgubbi, Maria Sole Valentino, Laura Folgori, Laura Petrarca, Claudio Cafagno, Marco Maglione, Anna Cascone and 8 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Influenza and other respiratory viruses, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Marco PoetaPediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Maternal and Child Health, University Hospital "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Cristina MoracasDepartment of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4986-1425
Elisabetta VenturiniInfectious Diseases Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Florence, Italy.
Sofia SgubbiDepartment of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Maria Sole ValentinoPediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Luigi Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8445-1236
Laura FolgoriDepartment of Paediatrics, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Laura PetrarcaDepartment of Maternal, Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2430-2981
Claudio CafagnoInfectious Diseases, Children's Hospital Giovanni XXIII, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico di Bari, Bari, Italy.
Marco MaglionePediatric Emergency Department, Santobono-Pausilipon Children Hospital, Naples, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8181-2219
Anna CasconeResidency School of Pediatrics, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
Claudia ColombaDepartment of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Alice RomeroDepartment of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Fabio MidullaDepartment of Maternal, Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Giuseppe IndolfiMeyer Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Florence, Italy.
Vania GiacometPediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Luigi Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Amelia LicariDepartment of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1773-6482
Luisa GalliInfectious Diseases Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Florence, Italy.
Alfredo GuarinoPediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Maternal and Child Health, University Hospital "Federico II", Naples, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0199-0336

Funding

Next Generation EU-MUR PNRR Extended Partnership Initiative on Emerging Infectious Diseases PE00000007, INF-ACT
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeElevated transaminases have been associated with increased severity in adult influenza cases, but data in the pediatric population are limited. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence, clinical characteristics and prognostic value of elevated transaminases in children hospitalized for influenza.

methodsA multicentre retrospective cohort study was conducted on 543 children hospitalized for acute viral respiratory infections. Demographic, clinical, biochemical, radiological features, and outcome were collected and analyzed, comparing children with influenza to those with other respiratory viruses. The association between elevated transaminases and clinical severity, complications, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission was assessed.

resultsAmong 543 children, 127 (23.4%) had laboratory-confirmed influenza, with 24.4% showing elevated transaminases versus 7.2% in noninfluenza infections (p < 0.001). Influenza B was associated with a higher prevalence of hypertransaminasemia (40%) than influenza A (20.6%, p = 0.042). Asthenia, myalgia, and hypovolemic shock were more common in the elevated transaminase group (p < 0.05). Biochemical markers indicated muscular rather than hepatic origin of hypertransaminasemia. Elevated transaminases correlated with length of hospital stay (10.2 vs. 5.8 days, p < 0.001), ICU admission (OR 4.4, p = 0.035), high-flow oxygen need (OR 4.6, p = 0.005), and intravenous fluids (OR 6.2, p = 0.001). Two deaths occurred, both in the elevated transaminase group.

conclusionElevated transaminases occur in one fourth of children hospitalized for influenza and are associated with more severe disease, systemic complications, and worse outcomes. The findings suggest that transaminase elevation reflects systemic and muscular involvement rather than primary liver injury. Monitoring transaminases provides an early, easy marker to identify children at risk of severe influenza.

Indexed as

BiomarkersInfluenza, HumanTransaminasesAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHospitalizationHumansInfantMalePrognosisRetrospective StudiesSeverity of Illness IndexBiomarkersTransaminasesaminotransferaseschildrenhypertransaminasemiainfluenzapediatricprognostic value

Identifiers

PMID42340130
PMCPMC13292016

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