Biliary atresia due to delayed maturation of the gut hormones' system?--Introducing a new treatment modality

Congenital biliary atresia is suspected to originate from prenatal biliary duct inflammation of unknown etiology.

Based on clinical grounds, we aimed to establish a hypothesis on the primary cause of inflammation, and to suggest a causal treatment modality.

History. A 28 years old Turkish woman had lost her first child aged two years from congenital biliary atresia (parents second degree cousins). After a miscarriage, in her otherwise uneventful third pregnancy sonography at 34 wks revealed echogenic material in the fetal gallbladder. Nine days later the gallbladder was completely filled with sludge. Chemical inflammation was suspected, and birth was induced at 36+3 weeks in order to allow for surgical flushing of the bile duct. Neonatal clinical chemistry was insuspicious. There was no spontaneous resolution of the sludge within the first 24 hours of life. A trial of medical treatment with intermittent i.v. secretin (0.03 CU/kg/h) and i.v. coeruletid (60 ng/kg/h) was started. Within 24 hours, sludge had resolved.

We hypothesize that dysmaturation may lead to insufficient induction/production/activity of intrinsic gut hormones resulting in prenatally impaired bile flow, or even inspissated bile. Familial occurrence suggests a genetic defect. Exogenous hormone therapy might be an appropriate treatment modality.