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Retinal neurodevelopmental assessment with electroretinogram in patients with biliary atresia
Jun Igarashi1, Toshiaki Shimizu, Satoshi Oguchi
1Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) deficiency, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), did not appear to affect later electroretinogram (ERG) results in children with biliary atresia (BA). This suggests PUFA insufficiencies in infants may not impact ERG outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Biliary atresia (BA) can impact nutrient absorption.
- n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are crucial for retinal development.
- The effect of PUFA deficiency on retinal function in BA patients is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between n-3 PUFA deficiency and retinal function in children with BA.
- To assess serum fatty acid levels and electroretinogram (ERG) responses in BA patients.
Main Methods:
- Study included five BA patients (8-14 years old).
- Serum fatty acid composition was analyzed using gas chromatography.
- Electroretinograms (ERG) were recorded using corneal contact lens electrodes.
Main Results:
- Two patients showed decreased arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels, with no ERG abnormalities.
- Three patients had decreased alpha-linolenic acid or DHA levels post-operation, also without ERG abnormalities.
Conclusions:
- Serum n-3 PUFA insufficiencies, including DHA, may not negatively influence later ERG results in children with BA.
- These findings suggest that while PUFA levels may be affected by BA, retinal electrical function, as measured by ERG, remains largely unaffected.
Background:
To evaluate the effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) deficiency on the development of retinal function in children with biliary atresia (BA), we examined serum fatty acid levels and performed electororetinogram (ERG) in patients with BA.
Methods:
The study group was composed of one male and four female BA patients (8-14 years) with serum bilirubin levels ranging from 0.40 to 1.48 mg/dL. All of the subjects were born as full-term infants. The fatty acid composition of total lipids in serum was analyzed by gas chromatography before the Kasai operation, approximately 10 months after the Kasai operation, and at the time of the ERG study. The ERG was recorded using corneal contact lens electrodes.
Results:
Two of the five patients showed decreased levels of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) before and after the operation, but no abnormal findings on ERG were detected in these patients. The other three patients had decreased levels of alpha-linolenic acid or DHA after the operation, but again, no abnormalities were found on ERG.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that insufficiencies of DHA and other n-3 PUFA in full-term infants might not have an influence on later ERG results.