Reovirus serotype 3 infection in infants with extrahepatic biliary atresia or neonatal hepatitis.
Infection with reovirus serotype 3 (reo 3) has been postulated to be associated with extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) in infants, and with neonatal hepatitis (NNH). We have investigated this association by assaying antireo 3 antibodies in sera from infants (aged < 4 months) with EHBA (n = 40), NNH (59), cholestatic liver disease due to other causes (61) and control infants with no liver disease (138). Antireo 3 immunoglobulins (Ig) of the G, A and M classes were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. No differences in the prevalence of antireo 3 IgG or IgA were found between any of the four groups. A significantly higher prevalence of positive antireo 3 IgM was found in infants with EHBA (12/40), NNH (12/59) or cholestatic liver disease associated with parenteral nutrition (7/17), alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (4/15) or a variety of other causes (15/29) compared with control infants (13/138). These data support an association between reovirus 3 infection and cholestatic liver disease in infants. The nature of this association may differ for EHBA, NNH and cholestatic liver disease due to other causes, and remains to be determined.
Richardson
S C
SC
Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Bishop
R F
RF
Smith
A L
AL
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D017734:Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic / Q000002:abnormalities*; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000150:complications*; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000150:complications; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012089:Mammalian orthoreovirus 3 / Q000276:immunology; D012088:Reoviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M