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Atresia biliar - Overview

Definición:

Es una obstrucción de los conductos (vías) que transportan un líquido llamado bilis desde el hígado hasta la vesícula biliar. Esta afección es congénita, lo cual significa que está presente al nacer.

Causas:

La atresia biliar ocurre cuando las vías biliares dentro y fuera del hígado no se desarrollan de manera normal. Sin embargo, no se sabe la razón por la cual el aparato biliar no logra desarrollarse normalmente.

Las vías biliares ayudan a eliminar los desechos del hígado y transportan sales que ayudan a que el intestino delgado descomponga (digiera) las grasas.

En los bebés con atresia biliar, se presenta obstrucción del flujo de bilis del hígado a la vesícula, lo cual puede llevar a daño hepático y cirrosis del hígado, que de no tratarse pueden ser mortales.

  • Reviewed last on: 11/2/2009
  • Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

A-Kader HH, Balistreri WF. Cholestasis. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 353.

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