Mark Nomden1, Daan B E van Wessel1, Solomon Ioannou2, Henkjan J Verkade3, Ruben H de Kleine4, Behrooz Z Alizadeh2, Janneke L M Bruggink1, Jan B F Hulscher1. 1. Section of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Medical Centre Groningen. 2. Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Centre Groningen. 3. Section of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Paediatrics, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Groningen. 4. Section of Hepato-pancreatic-biliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Environmental factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of biliary atresia (BA). This epidemiological study aimed to analyze the relationships between the incidence of BA, the incidence of confirmed viral or bacterial infections and population density, and geographical and temporal clustering of BA in the Netherlands. STUDY DESIGN: Correlations between the monthly incidence of BA and the number of confirmed infections were assessed. BA incidence per province was calculated and compared to the province with highest population density. Birthplaces were classified as rural or urban. Temporal clustering of month of birth and month of conception were analyzed. We performed analyses for isolated BA (IBA) and syndromic BA (SBA) separately. Chi2, logistic regression, and Walter and Elwood test were used. RESULTS: A total of 262 IBA and 49 SBA patients, born between 1987 and 2018, were included. IBA incidence correlated to the number of confirmed infections of, for example, Chlamydia trachomatis (R = 0.14; P = 0.02) and adenovirus (R = 0.22; P = 0.005). We observed a higher incidence of IBA (0.75/10,000; odds ratio [OR] = 1.86; P = 0.04) and SBA (0.27/10,000; OR = 6.91; P = 0.001) in Groningen and a higher incidence of SBA in Gelderland (0.13/10,000; OR = 3.35; P = 0.03). IBA incidence was 68% higher in rural (0.67/10,000) versus urban areas (0.40/10,000) (P = 0.02). The estimated month of conception of patients with SBA clustered in November (85% increase compared to average SBA incidence [0.09/10,000; P = 0.04]). CONCLUSIONS: IBA incidence correlated weakly with national confirmed infections. IBA and SBA incidence varied geographically in the Netherlands. IBA incidence was higher in rural than in urban areas, which may be explained decreased exposure to pathogens. Our results provide support for a role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of IBA.
OBJECTIVES: Environmental factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of biliary atresia (BA). This epidemiological study aimed to analyze the relationships between the incidence of BA, the incidence of confirmed viral or bacterial infections and population density, and geographical and temporal clustering of BA in the Netherlands. STUDY DESIGN: Correlations between the monthly incidence of BA and the number of confirmed infections were assessed. BA incidence per province was calculated and compared to the province with highest population density. Birthplaces were classified as rural or urban. Temporal clustering of month of birth and month of conception were analyzed. We performed analyses for isolated BA (IBA) and syndromic BA (SBA) separately. Chi2, logistic regression, and Walter and Elwood test were used. RESULTS: A total of 262 IBA and 49 SBA patients, born between 1987 and 2018, were included. IBA incidence correlated to the number of confirmed infections of, for example, Chlamydia trachomatis (R = 0.14; P = 0.02) and adenovirus (R = 0.22; P = 0.005). We observed a higher incidence of IBA (0.75/10,000; odds ratio [OR] = 1.86; P = 0.04) and SBA (0.27/10,000; OR = 6.91; P = 0.001) in Groningen and a higher incidence of SBA in Gelderland (0.13/10,000; OR = 3.35; P = 0.03). IBA incidence was 68% higher in rural (0.67/10,000) versus urban areas (0.40/10,000) (P = 0.02). The estimated month of conception of patients with SBA clustered in November (85% increase compared to average SBA incidence [0.09/10,000; P = 0.04]). CONCLUSIONS: IBA incidence correlated weakly with national confirmed infections. IBA and SBA incidence varied geographically in the Netherlands. IBA incidence was higher in rural than in urban areas, which may be explained decreased exposure to pathogens. Our results provide support for a role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of IBA.
Authors: Lin He; Patrick Ho Yu Chung; Vincent Chi Hang Lui; Clara Sze Man Tang; Paul Kwong Hang Tam Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2022-04-27 Impact factor: 6.208