@article {40185, title = {Review of historical cohort: ursodeoxycholic acid in extrahepatic biliary atresia.}, journal = {Journal of pediatric surgery}, volume = {43}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Jul}, pages = {1321-7}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Ursodeoxycholic acid is a bile acid that was found to increase bile flow, protect hepatocytes, and dissolve gallstones.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to review ursodeoxycholic acid in infants and children with extrahepatic biliary atresia.

METHODS: We used a statistical analysis of data of records of infants and children having extrahepatic biliary atresia who underwent Kasai portoenterostomy and attended Hepatology Clinic, New Children{\textquoteright}s Hospital, Cairo University, Egypt, from May 1985 until June 2005.

RESULTS: Of 141 infants with extrahepatic biliary atresia, 108 received ursodeoxycholic acid for mean duration +/- SD of 252.6 +/- 544.9 days in a dosage of 20 mg/kg per day. The outcome of infants who did not receive ursodeoxycholic acid and those who did was the following: 8 (24.2\%) and 11 (10.18\%) had a successful outcome (P = .043), 0 (0\%) and 7 (6.4\%) improved (P = .148), 25 (75.7\%) and 84 (77.7\%) had a failed outcome (P = .489), and none vs 5 died (4.6\%) (P = .135), respectively. The predictors of successful outcomes were age less than 65 days at portoenterostomy (P = .008) and absence of ursodeoxycholic acid intake (P = .04) with a likelihood of a successful outcome that was 2.8, that associated with ursodeoxycholic acid intake.

CONCLUSION: In this cohort of infants with extrahepatic biliary atresia, ursodeoxycholic acid was not shown to be effective, and its use was associated with a plethora of hepatic and extrahepatic complications.

}, keywords = {Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic, Biliary Atresia, Cholagogues and Choleretics, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Portoenterostomy, Hepatic, Retrospective Studies, Ursodeoxycholic Acid}, issn = {1531-5037}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2007.11.043}, author = {Kotb, Magd A} }