Role of reovirus type 3 in persistent infantile cholestasis.

The relationship between reovirus type 3 and persistent infantile cholestasis was studied by measuring antibody to the virus in the sera of affected and control babies younger than 1 year of age. One hundred sixty-seven infants were divided into four groups: those with extrahepatic biliary atresia, idiopathic neonatal hepatitis, or other cholestatic disorders, and controls. When available, maternal sera obtained simultaneously with infant sera were also studied. The results indicate that 62% of babies with extrahepatic biliary atresia and 52% of infants with idiopathic neonatal hepatitis have reovirus 3 antibodies. In contrast, less than 12% of either normal infants or babies with other cholestatic disorders have antibodies. These observations suggest that perinatal infection with reovirus type 3 may serve as an initiating event in the genesis of two closely related forms of infantile obstructive cholangiopathy: extrahepatic biliary atresia and idiopathic neonatal hepatitis.