Vanishing bile duct syndrome

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

Vanishing bile duct syndrome
Other namesDuctopenia
SpecialtyGastroenterology

Vanishing bile duct syndrome is a loose collection of diseases leading to hepatic bile duct injury and eventual ductopenia.[1]

Signs and symptoms

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The presentation is dependent upon the underlying cause. The course can be rapid or chronic.

  • Fatigue
  • Anorexia
  • Abdominal pain
  • Weight loss
  • Pruritus
  • Hyperlipidemia
  • Malabsorption
  • Fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies
  • Elevated alkaline phosphatase
  • Elevated gamma-glutamyltransferase
  • Elevated conjugated bilirubin

Cause

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Congenital

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In fetal and neonatal life the ductal plates are remodeled. The malformations can be atretic or fibrocystic.

Atretic causes

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  • Intrahepatic bile duct atresia (Alagille syndrome) (ALGS2 MIM:610205 and ALGS1 MIM:118450)
  • Extrahepatic bile duct atresia

Fibrocystic causes

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  • Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease
  • Congential hepatic fibrosis
  • Caroli's disease
  • Von Meyenburg complex

Chromosomal associations

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  • Trisomy 17, 18 and 21

Genetic associations

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  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency
  • Trihydroxycoprostanic acidemia
  • Byler's disease

Immunologic associations

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Bile duct injury and loss can result from autoimmune destruction. T cells recognize biliary epithelial cell antigens causing injury and eventual atresia.

Other causes

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Diagnosis

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Treatment

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Treatment is dependent upon the underlying cause. Treatment is supportive as it is not possible to induce regrowth of lost ducts.

Medical therapies

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References

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  1. ^ Reau NS, Jensen DM (February 2008). "Vanishing bile duct syndrome". Clin Liver Dis. 12 (1): 203–17, x. doi:10.1016/j.cld.2007.11.007. PMID 18242505.
  2. ^ Rossini, M. S.; Lorand-Metze, I; Oliveira, G. B.; Souza, C. A. (2000). "Vanishing bile duct syndrome in Hodgkin's disease: Case report". Sao Paulo Medical Journal. 118 (5): 154–7. doi:10.1590/s1516-31802000000500008. PMC 11175542. PMID 11018850.
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