title: Is there any association of extra hepatic biliary atresia with cytomegalovirus or other infections?
abstract: The objective of this study was to find any association of extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) with a possible infectious etiology. Infants diagnosed to have EHBA were tested by blood PCR for cytomegalovirus (CMV), Ebstein-Barr virus, HBsAg, anti-HCV and IgM antibodies for CMV, toxoplasma, rubella, and herpes infections. Thirty-three infants of EHBA were included in the study, male 22, median age when diagnosed 2.5 months (range 1.0-5.0 months). On examination pallor, oedema and hepatosplenomegaly were seen in all and ascites and microcephaly in 19 (57.6%). Centile height and weight were 50th in 23 and 25th in 10. Persistent CMV infection documented by PCR was present in 14 (42%) patients. Eleven of these also had positive CMV IgM antibodies. No other above mentioned infections could be detected in our patients of EHBA. Our data suggests that CMV infection may play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of EHBA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi.
authors.forename: Ghous Bukhsh
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Soomro
authors.forename: Zaigham
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: Mujahid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Nasir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Luck
authors.forename: Yousuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.forename: Abdaal Wasim
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D017734:Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral