M. Ishikawa et al., Liver transplantation in Japanese and Australian/New Zealand children withbiliary atresia: a 10-year comparative study, EURO J SURG, 165(5), 1999, pp. 454-459
Objective: To compare Japanese with Australian/New Zealand (ANZ) children w
ith biliary atresia who were treated by liver transplantation, and evaluate
the indications for and timing of transplantation.
Design: Retrospective study.
Setting: Queensland Liver Transplant Service (QLTS), Australia.
Subjects: 43 Japanese and 30 ANZ children with biliary atresia who required
transplantation between 1985 and 1992.
Interventions: The 43 Japanese children had 52 transplants, and the 30 ANZ
children had 33.
Main outcome measures: Morbidity, mortality, and long term survival.
Results: The Japanese children had significantly lower serum albumin concen
trations than the ANZ children preoperatively (mean (SD) 32 (7) g/L compare
d with 37 (5), p < 0.05). The actuarial survival at 7 years of the ANZ chil
dren was significantly higher than that of the Japanese children (79% compa
red with 49% p < 0.05). There were 24 deaths (17 Japanese, 40%, and 7 ANZ,
23%); 2 of the ANZ and 7 of the Japanese children died more than a year aft
er transplantation. All 26 children who were well-nourished at the time of
transplantation defined as a Z-score (weight or height minus mean weight or
height for age, sex, and race, divided by the SD) of -1 or more were alive
at 1 month compared with 11 of the 47 poorly-nourished children (Z-score <
-1). Survival among the Japanese declined after 1 year, and there was no as
sociation with Z-scores. Overall, Z-scores for weight improved significantl
y after transplantation, whereas those for height improved a little, but no
t significantly so. Japanese children were significantly shorter than Am ch
ildren, and their Z-scores for height did not improve after transplantation
.
Conclusion: liver transplantation should be done as soon as possible for ch
ildren with biliary atresia to maximise survival and growth.