Biliary Atresia Article Sections
Description
Biliary atresia is a rare disease that affects newborn infants. This serious disease of the liver occurs in about one in 10,000 children. It is more common in Asian and African-American newborns. Biliary atresia is more common in girls than in boys.
In this liver disease of newborns, the bile ducts inside or outside the liver do not have normal openings. The bile ducts are responsible for draining bile from the liver. Bile is a substance made by liver cells that passes through the bile ducts and into the small intestine. Bile helps with the digestion of food, fats, and cholesterol.
The loss (atresia) of normal openings of bile ducts causes bile to remain in the liver. Liver damage results from the build up of bile, which causes scarring and loss of liver tissue. Once liver failure occurs, liver transplantation is necessary. Biliary atresia can lead to liver failure within the first 1 to 2 years of life. Without surgery or liver transplantation the condition may lead to death.
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