J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 100(6): 394-398, 1999

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Feature topic

RECENT STUDIES ON THE PATHOGENESIS OF BILIARY ATRESIA

Biliary atresia (BA) is the most common cause of obstructive jaundice in infancy. Although the establishment of a treatment strategy for BA combining hepatic portoenterostomy and liver transplantation has greatly reduced the mortality rate, the etiology of BA is still unknown. In this paper, recent studies regarding embryologic and/or etiologic aspects of BA are reviewed. Our study suggests that BA is associated with increased and disorganized cell turnover of the bile ducts, which is related to ductal plate malformation or abnormal bile duct development. However, some of the various etiologic factors including viruses, toxic agents, immunological disorders, and genetic abnormalities may exist simultaneously. The variety of clinical characteristics and morphological features of BA may be attributable to the heterogeneity of pathogenesis.

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