Manganese deposition in the globus pallidus in patients with biliary atresia.
BACKGROUND
Chronic liver diseases may alter trace element contents in the brain. Among these trace elements, manganese is a ubiquitous transition metal excreted by the liver into the bile. Blood concentrations of manganese are elevated in patients with biliary atresia who have undergone hepatic portoenterostomy. The present study investigated the effects of liver transplantation on manganese deposition in the brain in such patients.


METHODS
The signal intensity of the globus pallidus was calculated as an index defined as the percentile ratio of signal intensity in the globus pallidus to the subcortical frontal white-matter in sagittal T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging planes.


RESULTS
Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed hyperintense signals in the globus pallidus due to manganese deposition in biliary atresia patients. Few neurologic symptoms related to manganese intoxication were observed. However, one 23-year-old female with biliary atresia had depressive symptoms and dyskinesia; she improved after oral administration of the dopamine precursor, L-DOPA. Manganese deposition disappeared in two patients after living-related reduced-size hepatic transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Manganese accumulates in the brain during cholestasis associated with biliary atresia and disappears after hepatic transplantation. Manganese deposition is likely to be subclinical and reversible but may be associated with some age-related neurologic symptoms.
Ikeda
S
S
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
Yamaguchi
Y
Y
Sera
Y
Y
Ohshiro
H
H
Uchino
S
S
Yamashita
Y
Y
Ogawa
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005917:Globus Pallidus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis
D008345:Manganese