Neonatal cholestasis and biliary atresia: perspective from Malaysia
- Author:
Lee WS
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
neonatal cholestasis;
biliary atresia
- MeSH:
Biliary Atresia
- From:Journal of University of Malaya Medical Centre
2010;13(2):72-79
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The liver is an important organ of the human body, playing a major role in the metabolism
and storage of nutrients, synthesis of protein and other nutrients, as well as detoxifying many
metabolic by-products. The response of the foetal and newborn liver to external insult and injury
is limited. This is because the ability of the closely interdependent structures of a developing
liver of expressing in the face of a variety of insults is limited as well. Thus most infants with
insults to the liver present as cholestatic jaundice with variable degree of pale stools, enlarged
liver and conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia. Biliary atresia, an idiopathic condition characterized by
progressive fibrosing obliteration of both intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts, is the most important
cause of neonatal cholestasis worldwide, including Malaysia. It is also the most important
indication for childhood liver transplantation the world over. Challenges facing infants with
biliary atresia include a delay in the diagnosis and late surgery, leading to a poor outcome. This
often results from a failure to recognise the potential serious nature of an infant with prolonged
cholestatic jaundice and pale stools among health care professionals. (JUMMEC 2010; 13(2): 72-79)
- Full text:P020160120356366210182.pdf
