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01-04-2009 | Original Paper

Incidence of hepatotropic viruses in biliary atresia

Authors: Stefan Rauschenfels, Miriam Krassmann, Ahmed N. Al-Masri, Willem Verhagen, Johannes Leonhardt, Joachim F. Kuebler, Claus Petersen

Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 4/2009

Abstract

Biliary atresia (BA) is the most frequent indication for paediatric liver transplantation. We tested the hypothesis of a viral aetiology of this disease by screening liver samples of a large number of BA patients for the common human hepatotropic viruses. Moreover, we correlated our findings to the expression of Mx protein, which has been shown to be significantly up-regulated during viral infections. Seventy-four liver biopsies (taken during Kasai portoenterostomy) were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for DNA viruses (herpes simplex virus [HSV], Epstein-Barr virus [EBV], varicella zoster virus [VZV], cytomegalovirus [CMV], adenovirus, parvovirus B19 and polyoma BK) and RNA viruses (enteroviruses, rotavirus and reovirus 3). Mx protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Virus DNA/RNA was found in less than half of the biopsies (8/74 CMV, 1/74 adenovirus; 21/64 reovirus, 1/64 enterovirus). A limited number presented with double infection. Patients that had detectable viral RNA/DNA in their liver biopsies were significantly older than virus-free patients (P = 0.037). The majority (54/59) of the liver biopsies showed expression of Mx proteins in hepatocytes, bile ducts and epithelium. Our data suggest that the known hepatotropic viruses do not play a major role in the aetiology and progression of BA. Their incidence appears to be, rather, a secondary phenomenon. Nonetheless, the inflammatory response in the livers of BA patients mimics that observed during viral infections.

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Title: Incidence of hepatotropic viruses in biliary atresia
Authors: Stefan Rauschenfels
Miriam Krassmann
Ahmed N. Al-Masri
Willem Verhagen
Johannes Leonhardt
Joachim F. Kuebler
Claus Petersen
Publication date: 01-04-2009
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 4/2009
Print ISSN: 0340-6199
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1076
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-008-0774-2

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Incidence of hepatotropic viruses in biliary atresia

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