[Biliary atresia in French Polynesia. Retrospective study of 10 years].

BACKGROUND

French Polynesia includes several ethnic groups; thus, it is well suited for evaluation of racial incidence of extrahepatic biliary atresia (BA). On the other hand, its geographic localization, far from specialized centers, does not facilitate early referral, indispensable for effective surgery.

POPULATION AND METHODS

The files of 17 infants with BA, born in French Polynesia between 1 December 1981 and 1 December 1991, were retrospectively studied. During this period, there were 53,111 live births.

RESULTS

The incidence of BA was 1/3,124. There were eight boys and nine girls; all belonged to the Maohi ethnic group (67% of the total population). They were admitted at the mean age of 71 +/- 33 days (range: 15-120 days); 15 of them were transferred to France at a mean age of 80 +/- 38 days (range: 35-150 days) and were operated on at 99 +/- 43 days (range: 48-195 days). The Kasai procedure was effective in four patients, with a follow-up ranging from 7 to 10 years. Among the 11 other patients, two underwent liver transplantation, four are waiting for transplantation and four have died.

CONCLUSIONS

The influence of race on the incidence of BA has not been statistically established here even though this incidence appears high in French Polynesia and similar to Chinese babies in Hawaii. Local geographic conditions explain late admission in pediatric Units whereas possibilities for early surgery are improving.