Prenatal Intestinal and Genitourinary Tract Infections Elevate Chances of Biliary Atresia in Children
A recent case-control study has uncovered a potential association between maternal infections during pregnancy and the development of biliary atresia (BA) in offspring. The research, conducted in Taiwan, focused on a cohort of 2,905,978 singleton live births, revealing that infants born to mothers with prenatal intestinal and genitourinary tract infections faced a significantly higher risk of BA.
Key Findings:
- The study included 447 infants diagnosed with BA and 2912 controls.
- Offspring exposed to prenatal intestinal infection and genitourinary tract infection exhibited a significantly higher risk of developing BA.
- Maternal infections during the third trimester, specifically intestinal and genitourinary tract infections, were associated with an increased risk of BA in offspring.
- The findings suggest a potential link between antepartum maternal infections and the occurrence of BA in children, emphasizing the need for further exploration of the underlying mechanisms.
Background:
- Biliary atresia is a rare hepatobiliary disease and a leading cause of pediatric liver transplant.
- While the exact etiology of BA remains unclear, the study aimed to investigate the association between maternal infections during pregnancy and the development of BA in offspring.
Study Details:
- The research utilized administrative data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database and the Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database.
- Intestinal infection, genitourinary tract infection, influenza, upper airway infection, pneumonia, and soft-tissue infection were considered as prenatal maternal infections.
- The study revealed a birth prevalence of 1.54 per 10,000 live births for BA during the study period.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that maternal infections, particularly intestinal and genitourinary tract infections, may play a role in the pathogenesis of BA in offspring.
- The study emphasizes the importance of further research to explore the underlying mechanisms of the observed association.
Limitations:
- The study relied on diagnostic codes and lacked information on laboratory test results and other potential risk factors for BA.
- The findings may not be directly applicable to other populations, and external validation is needed.
Conclusion:
The study contributes valuable insights into the potential impact of maternal infections on the development of biliary atresia in children, paving the way for future research aimed at understanding the underlying mechanisms and informing preventive measures.