Abstract
Biliary atresia is characterised by complete obstruction of the extrahepatic bile ducts. Its aetiology is unknown. It may be a congenital structural abnormality or an obliterative inflammation of the bile ducts. To assess whether genes of the HLA region confer susceptibility to biliaryatresia, we have performed in 49 controls & 55 patients HLA typing for 42 Class 1 (A & B) antigens & for 12 Class II (DR) antigens in 28 patients. 8 (15%) had major abnormalities outside the hepatobiliary sytem. The frequency of Class II antigens was similar in controls & patients. Significant differences occur only with the Class I antigen HLA-A10 and B12. HLA-10 was absent in all patients and present in 6 controls. (p<0.01.X2) B12 was present in 11 controls and 24 patients (p<0.02) occurring in 23 of 49 (p<0.01 compared with controls) without congenital anomalies in other systems and in only 1 of 8 with such malformations. The absence of HLA-10 suggests a protective action of this antigen. The increased frequency of B12 in patients without other congenital malformations may indicate that they may have genetically-determined susceptibility to biliary atresia, possibly through impaired response to exogenous antigens. It may be helpful in investigating possible aetiological factors in biliary atresia to consider two aetio-pathogenic groups, ie those with or without other abnormalities.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pt, D., Tr, S., G, MV. et al. THE INFLUENCE OF HLA STATUS IN DETERMINING SUSCEPTIBILITY TO BILIARY ATRESIA IN PATIENTS WITH & WITHOUT CONGENITAL ANOMALIES IN OTHER SYSTEMS. Pediatr Res 20, 690 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198607000-00030
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198607000-00030