Biliary scintigraphy with DISIDA. A simpler way of showing bile duct patency in suspected biliary atresia.

99mTC-diisopropyl iminodiacetic acid (DISIDA) scintigraphy after oral phenobarbitone treatment accurately indicated bile duct patency or obstruction in 28 of 32 (87%) infants, aged less than 12 weeks, with suspected biliary atresia. This investigation is more rapid than and as accurate as the 131I Rose-Bengal faecal excretion test.     

Diagnostic utility of hepatobiliary scintigraphy with 99mTc-DISIDA in neonatal cholestasis

We retrospectively evaluated the utility of hepatobiliary scintigraphy and various clinical factors in differentiating intrahepatic cholestasis from biliary atresia in 28 consecutive infants with neonatal cholestasis. One millicurie of technetium-labeled diisopropyliminodiacetic acid (DISIDA) was administered intravenously, and images were obtained for up to 24 hours or until gastrointestinal excretion was noted. Nine separate studies in seven infants with biliary atresia were correctly interpreted as showing no gastrointestinal excretion of radionuclide. Of the 21 patients with intrahepatic cholestasis, only nine had gastrointestinal excretion on the first study; in eight without excretion, a second study was done, and five of these showed gut excretion. All infants with either neonatal hepatitis (six) or inspissated bile syndrome (three) had demonstrable gastrointestinal excretion either on the first or second DISIDA study. However, five of six infants with paucity of intrahepatic bile ducts, two of six infants with cholestasis secondary to total parenteral nutrition, and one infant with cholangiolitis did not show evidence of gastrointestinal excretion. The mean birth weight, mean gestational age, and mean weight at study were significantly greater (P less than 0.005) for infants with biliary atresia without excretion than for infants with intrahepatic cholestasis without excretion. The mean direct bilirubin concentration was 6.0 mg/dL for both infants with biliary atresia and infants with intrahepatic cholestasis without excretion; however, infants with excretion had a significantly lower (P less than 0.02) mean direct bilirubin value of 3.4 mg/dL. Excretion was noted in four infants with total bilirubin values greater than 10.0 mg/dL. The absence of gut excretion on the first DISIDA study was 100% sensitive but only 43% specific for biliary atresia. In infants without gut excretion of DISIDA, birth weight greater than 2200 g was 100% sensitive and 92% specific for biliary atresia. We conclude that DISIDA scanning, together with clinical data, is useful in differentiating extrahepatic from intrahepatic cholestasis. The absence of gut excretion on the first DISIDA study does not necessarily indicate extrahepatic obstruction; the study should be repeated if the diagnosis is not clear.     

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy and the string test in the evaluation of neonatal cholestasis

We evaluated [99mTc]diisopropylphenyl-carbamoylmethylimidodiacetic acid ([99mTc]DISIDA) cholescintigraphy with measurement of duodenal fluid radioactivity collected by the string test in patients with neonatal cholestasis. Twenty-six infants with prolonged jaundice and acholic stools were studied prospectively. Twelve patients had neonatal hepatitis, 12 biliary atresia, and one each Alagille syndrome and alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency liver disease. All infants except the biliary atresia patients and four of the neonatal hepatitis patients revealed bowel activity on scan 6 h after tracer administration. At 24 h, three of these latter patients with neonatal hepatitis and two of the patients with biliary atresia revealed bowel activity. String radioactive counts for neonatal hepatitis ranged from 99,574 to 967,205 cpm (374,504 +/- 232,210 cpm; mean +/- SD) and for biliary atresia from 8,342 to 370,346 cpm (117,149 +/- 98,698 cpm; mean +/- SD). While neither test alone was capable of correctly differentiating among all patients, those patients with biliary atresia had either a negative hepatobiliary scan at 24 h or string radioactive count below 197,007 cpm. Disparity between the hepatobiliary scan and the string radioactive counts mandates further diagnostic investigation. These data suggest that simultaneous administration of the string test with hepatobiliary scintigraphy is advantageous in the evaluation of infants with cholestatic jaundice.     

Biliary atresia A review of the Auckland experience

A restospective study was performed on all babies presenting to Princess Mary Hospital, Auckland, with conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia. Twenty-six were diagnosed as having biliary atresia. Of these, 7 (27%) are excreting bile and remain jaundice free, 1 remains jaundiced but is still alive, and the remainder (69%) have died of terminal liver failure. Seven babies had associated anomalies. The incidence in Polynesians was 10 times higher than that in Caucasians. Ultrasound plus DISIDA scan was extremely sensitive at diagnosing the condition. Cholangitis remains the major postoperative problem, affecting all excretors.     

Atypical morphologic presentation of biliary atresia and value of serial liver biopsies

BACKGROUND: Liver biopsy findings are important in diagnosing extrahepatic biliary atresia. Diffuse ductular proliferation is a characteristic finding. We describe four patients with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia in whom the initial liver biopsy findings showed a lack of ductular proliferation, despite subsequent development of biliary atresia. RESULTS: On initial biopsy, paucity of intrahepatic bile ducts was present in three of four patients, with a bile duct to portal space ratio of 0.3 to 0.4 (normal, 0.9-1.8). A normal bile duct to portal space ratio of 1.0 was observed in the fourth patient. Ductular proliferation became apparent in three subjects between 9 and 12 weeks of age, and biliary atresia was noted at the time of a Kasai portoenterostomy. The fourth child had well-developed biliary cirrhosis at liver transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Changes characteristic of biliary atresia may appear even after 9 weeks of age. Bile duct paucity and normal bile duct to portal space ratio do not preclude the subsequent development of biliary atresia. Infants with unexplained conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and acholic stools should undergo sequential liver biopsies until clinical improvement occurs or until biliary atresia can be excluded from the differential diagnosis.     

Time Course of the Intrahepatic Lesion of Extrahepatic Biliary Atresia: A Morphometric Study

The time course of the intrahepatic lesions of untreated extrahepatic biliary atresia was evaluated by morphometric analysis of 49 specimens from 27 patients. The data show an early phase of rapid bile ductular proliferation, with peak in this material at 205 days, followed by rapid duct regression to approximately 400 days, and slower progressive intrahepatic duct loss thereafter. The ratio of ducts to connective tissue in portal tracts follows a similar course. Connective tissue in portal tracts rises on a slower course and continues to increase after maximum duct regression is reached, so the ratio of parenchyma to fibrous septa falls over the later course of the process. Although duct and connective tissue proliferation in hepatic portal tracts is associated in many liver diseases, the data of this study demonstrate dissociability of the relationships, with the fibrosis in the later stages of the intrahepatic process in extrahepatic biliary atresia apparently neither responsive to nor inducing biliary ductular proliferation.     

Time course of the intrahepatic lesion of extrahepatic biliary atresia: a morphometric study

The time course of the intrahepatic lesions of untreated extrahepatic biliary atresia was evaluated by morphometric analysis of 49 specimens from 27 patients. The data show an early phase of rapid bile ductular proliferation, with peak in this material at 205 days, followed by rapid duct regression to approximately 400 days, and slower progressive intrahepatic duct loss thereafter. The ratio of ducts to connective tissue in portal tracts follows a similar course. Connective tissue in portal tracts rises on a slower course and continues to increase after maximum duct regression is reached, so the ratio of parenchyma to fibrous septa falls over the later course of the process. Although duct and connective tissue proliferation in hepatic portal tracts is associated in many liver diseases, the data of this study demonstrate dissociability of the relationships, with the fibrosis in the later stages of the intrahepatic process in extrahepatic biliary atresia apparently neither responsive to nor inducing biliary ductular proliferation.     

Expression of osteopontin correlates with portal biliary proliferation and fibrosis in biliary atresia

The acquired or perinatal form of biliary atresia is a Th1 fibro-inflammatory disease affecting both the extrahepatic and intrahepatic bile ducts. Osteopontin (OPN) is a Th1 cytokine implicated in several fibro-inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We examined the expression of OPN in acquired biliary atresia in comparison to normal liver and several pediatric cholestatic liver diseases. We also assessed OPN expression by cultured human bile duct epithelial cells. We found that liver OPN mRNA and protein expression were significantly increased in biliary atresia versus normal and other cholestatic diseases. OPN expression in biliary atresia was localized to epithelium of proliferating biliary structures (ductules and/or ducts) and bile plugs contained therein. No portal biliary OPN expression could be demonstrated in normal liver, syndromic biliary atresia, biliary obstruction not due to biliary atresia, and idiopathic neonatal hepatitis. OPN expression by human bile duct epithelial cells in culture was responsive to IL-2 and TNF-alpha. Our results demonstrate an up-regulation of OPN expression by interlobular biliary epithelium in biliary atresia, which correlates with biliary proliferation and portal fibrosis. These findings suggest a role for OPN in the pathogenesis of biliary atresia.     

Bile duct atresia following extended right hepatectomy because of a tumor

A 19 month old male infant with a mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver underwent an extended right hepatectomy. Serum bilirubin gradually rose until 3 months after the surgery, and obstructive jaundice and acholic stools were manifested at 6 months. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage was performed. Cholangiography showed dilation of the intrahepatic bile duct of the residual lateral segment and complete obstruction of the extrahepatic bile duct. A second operation for reconstruction of the biliary tract was performed 10 months after the first surgery. No aspect of an extrahepatic biliary tract was found. Histological inspection of a surgical specimen of remnant tissue revealed only cicatricial connective tissue without any biliary structures. The clinical course has been uneventful for 18 months since the second surgery. The cause of bile duct atresia in this case is strongly suggested to be an ischemic change due to devascularization of the extrahepatic biliary tract following hepatic resection because of a tumor. To prevent this kind of complication, hepaticoenterostomy should be performed close to the cut surface of the liver.     

Antenatal diagnosis of biliary atresia (noncorrectable cyst type): a case report.

At 32 weeks of gestation a cystic mass was identified in the hepatic hilum of a fetus by maternal sonography. Laparotomy was performed at 39 days of life after a diagnosis of correctable type of biliary atresia (Type I). A cystically dilated extrahepatic duct, in which the proximal and distal sides of the common bile duct were occluded (Type III with cyst, noncorrectable type), was identified by operative cholangiography. A standard Kasai operation was performed, and 1 year after operation the patient was doing well and was jaundice-free. From this experience in routine maternal sonography, a cystic mass in the hepatic hilum may also suggest Type III biliary atresia with a cyst.     

Notch配体、受体在小儿胆道畸形肝组织中的表达及意义

目的 探讨Notch信号通路在小儿胆道畸形发病机制中的作用.方法 收集23例胆道畸形患儿临床资料(胆道闭锁12例,胆总管扩张11例),术中取肝脏组织样本;9例正常肝脏组织样本作为正常对照.免疫组化方法和实时荧光定量PCR方法检测肝脏组织中的Notch配体、受体的表达分布和相对表达量.结果 Jag1在胆道闭锁增生胆管表达明显增强,Jag2在各组门管区表达为阴性;荧光定量PCR显示:胆道闭锁组及胆总管扩张组Jag1 mRNA的表达明显高于对照组(P＜0.01);Jag2 mRNA的表达在三组问差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).Notch1、Notch 2在对照组及胆总管扩张组主要表达于肝细胞和成熟胆管细胞,胆道闭锁组胆管细胞无阳性表达.Notch 3在胆道闭锁汇管区新生血管、基质中有较为明显的表达.荧光定量PCR显示:Notch1、Notch 2mRNA的表达在三组间差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),胆道闭锁组Notch 3 mRNA的表达高于对照组(0.013±0.003比0.009±0.003,P＜0.01).Notch 4表达为阴性.结论 胆道闭锁肝脏组织Notch配体、受体表达异常,增生胆管细胞Jag1的过表达及Notch受体表达缺陷可能参与了胆道闭锁的病理过程.     

Experimental hepatoportoenterostomy: duct mucosal healing with hybrid biliary-intestinal epithelium forming an autoanastomosis

Permanent bile flow following hepatoportoenterostomy for biliary atresia is presumed to follow mucosal healing of the biliary tract to the intestinal epithelium, but the morphology of the anastomosis and the histology of the neo-biliary duct is not known. Experimental portoenterostomies were constructed in five normal 10-kg mini-pigs at approximately 3 months of age to study the healing of the anastomosis. The extrahepatic bile duct was resected in continuity with an en-bloc 1.5 × 0.3-cm segment of liver at the porta hepatis and biliary drainage was achieved with a Roux-en-Y jejunal limb. The bile duct remnant at the porta hepatis measured 3 mm in diameter. HIDA scan performed at 2 months showed prompt excretion of the radioisotope and normal function of the jejunal limb. Animals were killed at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months following operation and the intact hepatobiliary anastomosis examined by routine histology and histochemical staining for acid and neutral mucins. At 2 weeks the biliary epithelial ducts were hyperplastic and showed evidence of cellular regeneration and cholangitis. By 1 month the biliary and intestinal epithelia were in close approximation. At 3 months the biliary-intestinal epithelium was healed, forming a funnel-like autoanastomosis with normal proximal biliary epithelium and distal intestinal epithelium. An intervening zone of hybrid biliary-intestinal epithelium showed basal crypts with characteristics of biliary epithelium, while the superficial glandular epithelium resembled intestinal villi. Mucin histochemistry of the hybrid epithelial lining revealed predominantly neutral mucins in the basal region of the mucosa characteristic of biliary mucosa. The luminal epithelium revealed a high acid mucin content, including goblet cells. A microvillus brush border, rich in neutral mucin, was also present apically on the luminal most cells. We conclude that: (1) hepatoportoenterostomy in normal mini-pigs is a reproducible model to study healing of the anastomosis; (2) a continuous, intact hepatobiliary-intestinal mucosa is present within 3 months following portoenterostomy; and (3) the neo-epithelium has a hybrid biliary-intestinal appearance. This study may have application to understanding the cause of cholangitis following portoenterostomy for biliary atresia.     

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy with technetium-99m disofenin in the evaluation of neonatal cholestasis

To assess the reliability of technetium-99m disofenin scanning in evaluating neonatal cholestasis, 33 neonates (less than 3 months of age) with direct hyperbilirubinemia were evaluated prospectively by cholescintigraphy. Results of this test were compared to those of standard serum tests of liver function, ultrasonography, and liver biopsy. The diagnosis of biliary atresia was suggested by a serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) greater than 300 units/L, absence of the gallbladder on ultrasonography, and a lack of detectable radioisotope in the gastrointestinal and/or extrahepatic biliary tract on cholescintigraphy. Each of these tests lacked sensitivity and/or specificity when compared to liver biopsy. Of the nine neonates with biliary atresia, three had gallbladders identified by ultrasonography and two had gamma-GTP less than 300 units/L. Of the 24 neonates without biliary atresia, eight had cholescintigraphy without detectable radioisotope excretion, four had ultrasonography that failed to visualize the gallbladder, and nine had gamma-GTP greater than 300 units/L. Cholescintigraphy excluded the diagnosis of biliary atresia when gut and/or extrahepatic biliary excretion of isotope was seen. However, cholescintigraphy required more time, 6-8 days, and was less specific than ultrasonography and liver biopsy. We recommend that cholescintigraphy should not be routinely used in evaluating neonatal cholestasis, especially if it delays surgical intervention.     

Prolonged neonatal jaundice and the diagnosis of biliary atresia: a single-center analysis of trends in age at diagnosis and outcomes

Age at diagnosis is a modifiable risk factor in outcomes after hepatoportoenterostomy in biliary atresia; however, distinguishing biliary atresia from other more common causes of prolonged neonatal jaundice can be difficult. To focus attention on diagnosis of biliary atresia, we analyzed secular trends in the age at diagnosis, and other factors that might influence outcome. We performed a retrospective analysis of 55 consecutive infants with biliary atresia presenting to a single academic pediatric center over 15-year period from 1990 to 2004. The median age at diagnosis was 60 days (range: 21-152). In recent era (2000-2004), the median age was 69.0 days, compared with 48.5 days (1990-1994) and 59.5 days (1995-1999), respectively. Consistent with previous studies, the median age at diagnosis of those with poor outcomes (death or liver transplant) exceeded those with good outcomes after the hepatoportoenterostomy (72 vs 52 days, P < .001). The lack of improvement, or a concerning trends toward an increase in the age at diagnosis of biliary atresia, is perhaps attributable to neonatal follow-up practices. Efforts to make an earlier diagnose of this important condition deserve wider application and study.     

Ten minute radiopharmaceutical test in biliary atresia.

To provide an objective rapid means of excluding extrahepatic biliary atresia (atresia), a hepatic index was devised from the ratio of the net hepatic to cardiac distribution of 99mTc diisopropyl iminodiacetic acid or methylbrom iminodiacetic acid between 2.5 and 10 minutes after injection. The hepatic index was compared with subjective assessment of abdominal scintigraphy performed repeatedly over 24 hours. In 22 infants with hepatitis the hepatic index ranged from 5.03 to 14.9, one having no excretion on scintiscan. In 26 infants with atresia the index ranged from 0.49 to 4.26 and in two with paucity of intralobular bile ducts it was 1.85 and 3.69. None of these infants had excretion apparent on scintiscans. Similarly, low hepatic indices occurred in four infants with liver dysfunction but pigmented stools, three of whom had no excretion apparent on scintiscans. These preliminary studies suggest that a hepatic index of greater than 5 is much more rapid and as specific in excluding atresia as repeated abdominal scintigraphy.     

57例胆道闭锁术后近期疗效及部分影响预后因素分析

为了解胆道闭锁术后近期疗效及部分影响预后的因素，对1990年1月－2001年12月收治的胆道闭锁患儿57例进行分析。男32例，女25例；平均手术年龄81天（33－223天）；36例行Kasai术。测定13例患儿血清巨细胞病毒的DNA、抗CMV－lgG和lgM抗体和肝活检组织和CMV抗原表达。结果：Kasai术后总的胆汁排出率为53．8％，总的黄疸消退率为33．3％。激素治疗有促进胆汁引流作用。60天以内手术组疗效明显好于90天以后手术组。CMV感染组术后疗效较非感染相差。提示在目前国内尚未广泛开展肝移植的情况下，早期诊断、及早手术及加强术后抗感染和抗病毒治疗对提高其生存率意义重大。     

A multicenter study of the outcome of biliary atresia in the United States, 1997 to 2000

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic factors and optimal approaches to the diagnosis and management of biliary atresia, the leading indication for liver transplantation in children. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was performed of all children who underwent hepatoportoenterostomy (HPE) for biliary atresia between 1997 and 2000 at 9 centers in the United States. Outcome at age 24 months was correlated with demographic and clinical parameters. RESULTS: A total of 104 children underwent HPE; 25% had congenital anomalies, and outcome was worse in those with biliary atresia splenic malformation syndrome. Diagnostic and clinical approaches varied, although specific approaches did not appear to correlate with outcome. The average age at referral was 53 days, and the average age at HPE was 61 days. At age 24 months, 58 children were alive with their native liver, 42 had undergone liver transplantation (37 alive, 5 dead), and 4 had died without undergoing transplantation. Kaplan-Meier analysis of survival without liver transplantation revealed markedly improved survival in children with total bilirubin level<2 mg/dL at 3 months after HPE (84% vs 16%; P<.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Outcome in the study centers was equivalent to that reported in other countries. Total bilirubin in early follow-up after HPE was highly predictive of outcome. Efforts to improve bile flow after HPE may lead to improved outcome in children with biliary atresia.     

Obstructive jaundice caused by biliary stone formation around the stent after liver transplantation

We report an unusual case of obstructive jaundice caused by a biliary stone, which developed in the stump of a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy after undergoing LT. The patient was a 13-yr-old male. At 74 days after birth, a hepaticojejunostomy (Kasai's procedure) was performed for the treatment of biliary atresia. He underwent a reduced size deceased donor LT in the left subphrenic space twice at the age of one and three years in Australia. Eleven years after his second LT, he developed liver dysfunction and jaundice with a low grade fever. Computed tomography showed a marked jejunal loop enlargement by a rugby ball-shaped stone and the bile duct in the graft was thus dilated. A surgical exploration revealed the jejunal loop to be bent sharply while its stump side was dilated by stagnated bile including a biliary stone. The stone included a stent that had been previously used for the hepaticojejunostomy. This case suggests that a retained stent used for hepaticojejunostomy had thus caused biliary stone formation because of a combination of various conditions in the jejunal loop.     

I型胆管闭锁的外科治疗

目的探讨I型胆管闭锁的外科治疗以及临床意义。方法2003—2011年,作者收治胆道闭锁患儿98例,其中伴有胆总管闭锁的I型胆管闭锁患儿5例,男3例,女2例,年龄62～127d。行胆囊-空肠吻合术2例,肝管-空肠吻合术3例。结果2例胆囊-空肠吻合术患儿退黄时间分别为术后10d和术后17d（退黄标准为总胆红素〈20μmol／L）;3例肝管-空肠吻合术患儿退黄时间分别为术后20d、1个月和2个月（退黄标准同前）。术后随访时间1—5年;2例胆囊-空肠吻合术患儿术后未见黄疸反复。3例肝管-空肠胆道重建手术患儿中,1例术后未见黄疸反复,1例术后5个月出现黄疸,诊断为胆管炎,经抗炎治疗后好转;1例反复发作胆管炎最终选择肝移植。结论术中胆道造影是诊断胆道闭锁的金标准;如果术中造影证实为胆总管闭锁,且胆囊与左、右肝管通畅,主张采取胆囊-空肠吻合术。肝管-空肠吻合容易造成吻合口狭窄;过度解剖肝门对于术后恢复不利。