HEPATIC CONCENTRATIONS OF ZINC, COPPER AND MANGANESE IN INFANTS WITH EXTRAHEPATIC BILIARY ATRESIA

The objective of this study was to determine the concentration of Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu) and Manganese (Mn) in hepatic tissue from extrahepa tic biliary atresia (EHBA). Liver biopsy samples were obtained at time of portoenterostomy from 49 infants ages 1.1 to 20.7 months (median 2 .1) with EHBA. Samples were dry ashed and analyzed by flame (Zn) or fl ameless (Cu and Mn) atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Hepatic Cu co ncentrations are physiologically elevated at birth and decline rapidly during the first 2 month of life, therefore only samples from 29 infa nts, ages greater than 8 weeks were considered for Cu. Concentrations (mg/kg dry weight, mean and range) were: Zn 142 (70-507), Cu 204 (19-5 70), Mn 9.1 (2.8-21.8) Ils. literature controls in the same age range: Zn 262 (82-543), Cu 92, Mn 4.3 (3.3-11.5). No correlations were found between serum alkaline phosphatase, AST or total bilirubin and hepati c trace element concentrations, between trace element concentrations a nd age, or between Cu and Mn. Decreased bile flow with intrahepatic ch olestasis may result in hepatic accumulation of Mn as well as Cu. The low hepatic Zn concentrations indicate the need for further study of Z n metabolism in this population.