Evaluation of Immune Function in Biliary Atresia Children With Prolonged Jaundice
Evaluation of Immune Function in Biliary Atresia Children With Prolonged Jaundice
Null hypothesis of this study: Biliary atresia patients with cholestatic jaundice do not have
 systemic immunity defect.
Biliary atresia patients with cholestatic jaundice were noted to have increased incidence of
 infectious complications. Previous animal models of bile duct ligation with acute jaundice
 ever demonstrated impairment of both humoral and cellular immune function. We performed the
 immunity study in biliary atresia patients due to the lack of comprehensive systemic immunity
 study in pediatric cholestatic model. Systemic humoral immunity (total serum IgG, IgA, IgM,
 C3 and C4), specific cellular immunity (lymphocyte classification, mitogen response,
 cytokines level after PHA stimulation test), and non-specific cellular immunity (absolute
 neutrophil count, PMN CD11b/CD18 expression level, PMN superoxide release function, and PMN
 phagocytosis function) were tested. Association with serum bilirubin level, nutritional
 status and blood biochemical values were tested to see the relation between systemic immune
 function and cholestatic jaundice.
Inclusion Criteria:

 Biliary patients older than 1-year-old status post Kasai operation.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 Received liver transplantation, immunosuppresant, systemic immunoglobulin (within 6 months)
 and obvious infectious episode (within 2 weeks).