Serum vitamin E levels in children with corrected biliary atresia.
In 37 children with long-standing cholestasis who had undergone a Kasai's procedure (double Roux-en-Y hepatic portoenterostomy), serum vitamin E levels were determined. In addition, serum bile acid levels were simultaneously tested as a marker of cholestasis. Eighteen of 37 children had vitamin E levels of less than 0.50 mg/100 ml, and two showed neurological abnormalities including hypoactive deep tendon reflexes and ataxia. Serum vitamin E levels were inversely correlated with serum bile acid levels (p less than 0.01). Older patients have mild cholestasis and high serum vitamin E levels in comparison with younger ones. Improvement in bile excretion into the intestinal tract with age seemed to be responsible for an increase of serum vitamin E levels. Oral supplements of alpha-tocopherol in doses of 5 to 10 mg/kg/day were needed to maintain the normal serum vitamin E levels in postoperative infants.
D001259:Ataxia / Q000209:etiology; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000097:blood; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000601:surgery; D008099:Liver / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal / Q000209:etiology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D014810:Vitamin E