Detection of Epstein Barr virus by chromogenic in situ hybridization in cases of extra-hepatic biliary atresia.
BACKGROUND
Extra-hepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) is an important cause of neonatal cholestasis. Several infectious agents have been proposed as etiologic factors such as Rotavirus and Reovirus. There is limited data on the role of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection in EHBA, so we decided to study the presence of EBV virus in a series of 16 proven EHBA cases by chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) technique.


METHODS
In the current study a total of 16 liver wedge biopsies of proven cases of EHBA were selected in a period of 4 years. CISH staining for EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) transcript was performed.


RESULTS
The review of H&E-stained slides of liver biopsies revealed fibrosis and marked ductular proliferation. In CISH-stained slides, EBV trace was observed in hepatocytes in two cases and in biliary epithelium in one case of EHBA.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering the association of hepatitis with the Epstein-Barr virus in later life, it is likely that EBV hepatitis and its complications occur in the neonatal/perinatal period. Since EHBA is a relatively rare disease, a similar study on wedge biopsies of this number of proven cases of EHBA has not been performed to date. Current observation proposes the need for a study of larger series and employing other methods for confirming the etiologic role of EBV in EHBA cases.
Mahjoub
Fatemeh
F
Pathology Department, Markaze Tebbi Koodakan (Children Hospital related to Tehran University of Medical Sciences), End of Keshavarz Boulevard, Tehran, Iran. fmahjoub@sina.tums.ac.ir
Shahsiah
Reza
R
Ardalan
Farid Azmoudeh
FA
Iravanloo
Guiti
G
Sani
Mehri Najafi
MN
Zarei
Abdolmajid
A
Monajemzadeh
Maryam
M
Farahmand
Fatemeh
F
Mamishi
Setareh
S