Normalization of serum bile acids after partial external biliary diversion indicates an excellent long-term outcome in children with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:

The surgical treatment for patients with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is either liver transplantation (LTX) or partial external biliary diversion (PEBD). Both procedures achieve a good short-term outcome. However, the treatment strategy for these children remains controversial because the long-term outcome after PEBD is unknown. The aim of our study was to assess the long-term outcome and complications after PEBD in our institution.

METHODS:

We retrospectively analyzed the characteristics of all patients with PFIC undergoing PEBD in our department from 1994 to 2008. The course of serum bile acids, pruritus, and liver enzymes was assessed in a regular follow-up.

RESULTS:

Twenty-four patients underwent PEBD. Thirteen patients (54%) improved significantly, with a normalization of serum bile acids (P < .001 vs postoperatively) and lessened pruritus (P < .05 vs preoperatively) at 12 months after PEBD. None of these patients showed progression of cholestasis during a median follow-up of 9.8 years (range, 1.6-14.3 years). Partial external biliary diversion failed to normalize bile acids in 11 patients, of whom 9 required secondary LTX at a 1-year follow-up, with a median interval of 1.9 years (range, 0.5-3.8 years). All 7 patients (100%) with liver cirrhosis at the time of PEBD and 2 of 17 patients without cirrhosis (12%) required secondary LTX (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Clinical improvement with normalization of serum bile acids within 1 year was associated with an excellent long-term outcome in patients with PEBD. The presence of liver cirrhosis at the time of PEBD indicated an unfavorable outcome. Thus, we recommend primary LTX only in PFIC patients with liver cirrhosis.

• Authors: Nagoud Schukfeh, Martin Lothar Metzelder, Claus Petersen, Marc Reismann, Eva Doreen Pfister, Benno Manfred Ure, Joachim Friedrich Kuebler
• Journal: Journal of pediatric surgery (J Pediatr Surg) Vol. 47 Issue 3 Pg. 501-5 (Mar 2012) ISSN: 1531-5037 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22424345 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Bile Acids and Salts
• Biomarkers

Topics

• Adolescent
• Bile Acids and Salts (blood)
• Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures (methods)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Cholestasis, Intrahepatic (blood, complications, surgery)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Infant
• Liver Cirrhosis (etiology, surgery)
• Liver Transplantation
• Male
• Ostomy
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Treatment Outcome