Clinical Practice Update:Biliary Atresia

Biliary atresia (BA) is a rare inflammatory sclerosing obstructive cholangiopathy that initiates in infancy as complete choledochal blockage and progresses to the involvement of intrahepatic biliary epithelium. Children with BA are usually presented with jaundice. A greenish-yellow color is observed; acholic stool and dark urine usually accompany jaundice. Biliary atresia may be suspected prenatally, when a cystic structure is observed in the portahepatis. Biliary atresia is usually diagnosed by performing liver enzymes, direct& indirect bilirubin. Levels of (GGT) and (Alk-p), are higher than hepatocellular enzymes, such as (ALT) and (AST). Special attention should be paid to GGT as well as liver biopsy.