Research Description

Biliary Atresia: 20 years of experience at the University of Florida

Biliary Atresia, or the absence of extrahepatic biliary ducts, is a disease of unknown etiology encountered during the newborn period. Although the cause is uncertain, it is known that Biliary Atresia affects only newborns, and although it is not preventable, it is not hereditary or contagious either. Biliary Atresia is usually diagnosed at 2 or 3 weeks of age, when the newborn presents with jaundice and cholestasis. After certain tests are performed to confirm the diagnosis, a surgical procedure known as the Kasai procedure can be done to treat the condition. If not surgically corrected, however, secondary liver failure may occur.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical outcomes of patients diagnosed with Biliary Atresia. As many of these patients will later go on to receive transplants and Shands Hospital has a renowned transplant center, I am also interested in the potential difference in treatment by different types of surgeons. I plan to review the medical charts of patients diagnosed with Biliary Atresia at Shands Hospital during the past 20 years. I will use statistical regression methods to analyze my data to determine if there are common factors present prior to diagnosis, similarities in prognosis, and any associations visible at the end of treatment. With this project, I hope to shed some light on the pathogenesis of Biliary Atresia.

The long-term goals of this project include identifying neonates who are at risk for developing Biliary Atresia, creating potential interventions to prevent and accurately predict its onset, and developing less-invasive methods for treatment.