Biliary Atresia

Introduction: Biliary Atresia

Biliary Atresia: A rare condition that can affect newborns where the bile duct that carries the bile from the liver to the small intestine is blocked or missing. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Biliary Atresia is available below.

Symptoms of Biliary Atresia

• Yellow discolouration of skin and eyes of baby (jaundice) usually appearing after 2-3 weeks and still persisting after 6 weeks
• Dark urine
• Pale yellow or grey stools
• Itchy skin and scratching (pruritus)
• Diarrhoea

See full list of 25 symptoms of Biliary Atresia

Treatments for Biliary Atresia

• Surgery to resect existing ducts and create drainage system
• Liver transplantation
• Dietary supplements - caloric and vitamin support
• Vitamin K injection if bleeding abnormalities or bruising

Read more about treatments for Biliary Atresia

Videos for Biliary Atresia

Patient Surveys for Biliary Atresia

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your Biliary Atresia
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Reseach about Biliary Atresia

Visit our research pages for current research about Biliary Atresia treatments.

Clinical Trials for Biliary Atresia

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Biliary Atresia include:

• Study of Magnesium Sulfate in Children With Reduced Bone Density Secondary to Chronic Cholestatic Liver Disease - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - magnesium gluconate,magnesium sulfate
• A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Corticosteroid Therapy Following Portoenterostomy - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Corticosteroids
• Biliary Atresia Study in Infants and Children - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Use of Probiotics to Prevent Cholangitis in Children With Biliary Atresia After the Kasai Portoenterostomy - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus (Lcr35)
• Biliary Atresia Research Consortium - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)

See full list of 6 Clinical Trials for Biliary Atresia

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Biliary Atresia, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

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Definitions of Biliary Atresia:

Progressive destruction or the absence of all or part of the extrahepatic BILE DUCTS, resulting in the complete obstruction of BILE flow. Usually, biliary atresia is found in infants and accounts for one third of the neonatal cholestatic JAUNDICE. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Biliary Atresia is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Biliary Atresia, or a subtype of Biliary Atresia, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Biliary Atresia as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet