2021 Webinar: Biliary Atresia: Where We Are and Where Do We Go from Here?-Biliary Atresia: Where We Are and Where Do We Go from Here?

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this ASLD webinar titled "Biliary Atresia: Where We Are and Where Do We Go From Here?" three speakers presented on various aspects of biliary atresia. Dr. Kathy Looms discussed genomics and biliary atresia and highlighted the complex genetic factors involved in the development and progression of the disease. She mentioned that while biliary atresia is not a genetic disease, there may be a genetic susceptibility in some individuals, which could interact with environmental factors. She also discussed various genome-wide association studies, copy number variants, and whole exome sequencing studies that have identified candidate genes and genetic variants associated with biliary atresia. Dr. Sanjeev Harpawit focused on prognostic markers for biliary atresia, specifically looking at markers that can predict outcomes after the casia operation. He highlighted the importance of predicting which patients will have good or poor outcomes after casia and discussed markers such as total bilirubin, albumin, and platelet count that have been shown to be associated with transplant-free survival. Dr. Saul Carpen spoke about long-term outcomes of biliary atresia after casia operation, emphasizing the ongoing risk of disease progression even after successful casia. He discussed the significant complications that can arise during childhood and highlighted the need for continued close monitoring of patients as they transition into adulthood. He also mentioned the current adjuvant therapeutic landscape for biliary atresia, including potential therapies such as I-BAD inhibitors, and the need for further studies to assess their efficacy in improving outcomes. Overall, the webinar provided valuable insights into the genetics, prognostic markers, and long-term outcomes of biliary atresia, and highlighted the need for ongoing research in this field to improve patient care.

Keywords

Biliary Atresia

Genomics

Genetic factors

Prognostic markers

Casia operation

Transplant-free survival

Long-term outcomes

Complications

Adjuvant therapeutic landscape

Research