Ultrastructure of intrahepatic biliary canaliculi and prognosis of congenital biliary atresia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between the ultrastructure of intrahepatic biliary canaliculi and the prognosis of congenital biliary atresia.


METHODS
Liver biopsies from 25 patients who were operated on for congenital biliary atresia were examined under the transmission electron microscope. The relationship between the number of well-developed bile canaliculi and patient prognosis was studied.


RESULTS
The survival rate for 13 patients with well-developed intrahepatic biliary canaliculi and 12 patients with poorly-developed intrahepatic biliary canaliculi were 92.3% (12/13) and 33.3% (4/12) respectively. The difference between two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Intrahepatic biliary canaliculi ultrastructure could be used as one of the prognostic factors in congenital biliary atresia.
Chen
J
J
Department of Pediatric Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China. zenghl@public.guangzhou.gd.cn
Li
G
G
Liu
J
J
Wu
Y
Y
D001648:Bile Canaliculi / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate