Alagille syndrome
| Alagille syndrome | |
| ICD-10 | Q44.7 (EUROCAT Q44.71) |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 759.89 |
| OMIM | 118450 |
| DiseasesDB | 29085 |
| MeSH | D016738 |
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Overview
Pathophysiology
Associated Conditions
Diagnosis
Treatment
There is no known cure for Alagille's Syndrome. Most of the treatments available are aimed at improving the functioning of the heart, and reducing the effects of impaired liver function.
Medical Therapy
The medical management of Alagille Syndrome is complex and continues to generate controversy. The significant variability of organ involvement requires the managing physician to have an understanding of the breadth and interplay of the variable manifestations. Furthermore, the liver disease in particular requires an appreciation of the natural history and evolution of the profound cholestasis.
Several medications are used to improve bile flow and reduce itching (pruritus): Ursodiol (Actigall), Hydroxyzine (Atarax), Cholestyramine, Rifampicin, and Phenobarbitol have all been used to varying degrees of success.
Many patients with Alagille's Syndrome will also benefit from a high dose of a multivitamin such as ADEK (contining high levels of vitamins A, D, E, and K), as the reduced bile flow makes it difficult to absorb and utilize these vitamins.It is equally important to optimize nutrition to maximize growth and development. Those with splenomegaly need to use spleen guard during activnities. Routine follow up with a pediatrician is necessary.
Surgery
Corrective surgery is sometimes needed to repair heart defects associated with Allagile Syndrome. Also, because the pulmonary arteries are often narrow in Alagille patients, a catheterization process similar to angioplasty may be used to widen the arteries to reduce pressure on the heart's pumping valves. In moderate to severe cases, stents may be placed in the arteries to increase their diameter. Transplantation of the liver has been a successful alternative to medication in severe cases. However, liver transplantation from donor parents should always be preceded by genetic testing because cases have been known where donor mother was also found to have alagille syndrome post transplant owing to the autosomal dominant inheritance pattern of the syndrome. Death from graft failure, neurological, and cardiac complications is significantly higher in patients with Alagille Syndrome than patients with Biliary Atresia [1].
Recently, a procedure called partial biliary diversion has been used to significantly reduce pruritus, jaundice, and xanthomas caused by poor bile flow. A portion of the bile produced by the liver is directed through a surgically created stoma into a plastic pouch on the patient's lower right abdomen. The pouch is periodically drained as it fills with bile.
The Kasai procedure, although appropriate for children with biliary atresia, does not benefit children with Alagille Syndrome and actually appears to worsen outcome [2].
Prognosis
Mortality is approximately 10%, with vascular accidents, cardiac disease, and liver disease accounting for most of the deaths. Vascular anomalies account for 34% of the mortality in this population [3].
See also
References
- ↑ Arnon R, Annunziato R, Miloh T, Suchy F, Sakworawich A, Sogawa H; et al. (2010). "Orthotopic liver transplantation for children with Alagille syndrome". Pediatr Transplant. 14 (5): 622–8. doi:10.1111/j.1399-3046.2009.01286.x. PMID 20070561.
- ↑ Kaye AJ, Rand EB, Munoz PS, Spinner NB, Flake AW, Kamath BM (2010). "Effect of Kasai procedure on hepatic outcome in Alagille syndrome". J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 51 (3): 319–21. doi:10.1097/MPG.0b013e3181df5fd8. PMID 20601899.
- ↑ Kamath BM, Spinner NB, Emerick KM, Chudley AE, Booth C, Piccoli DA; et al. (2004). "Vascular anomalies in Alagille syndrome: a significant cause of morbidity and mortality". Circulation. 109 (11): 1354–8. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.0000121361.01862.A4. PMID 14993126.
External links
Support groups
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