Maternal risk factors associated with offspring biliary atresia: population-based study

Background Biliary atresia (BA) is a progressive, idiopathic, fibro-obliterative disease of the intra and extrahepatic biliary tree. If untreated, it results in severe liver injury and death. The etiology and pathogenesis of BA remain unclear. Few studies have investigated the association between maternal illness/drug use and the occurrence of BA in offspring. Methods We used the data from the Birth Certificate Application of Taiwan and linked to National Health Insurance Research Database and Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database for the years 2004 to 2017 ( N = 1,647,231) on 2022/03, and identified BA cases according to diagnosis and procedure code. A total of 285 BA cases were identified. Results Mothers with type 2 diabetes mellitus and non-dependent drug abuse had higher rates having BA children than non-BA children, with an odds ratio of 2.17 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04–4.53) and OR: 3.02 (95% CI = 1.34–6.78), respectively. Conclusion These results support the notion that BA occurrence is related to maternal reasons. Further studies should be designed to identify additional maternal and pregnancy risk factors and to understand the underlying pathophysiology. Impact The occurrence of offspring biliary atresia may be related to maternal illness/drug use. Maternal drug abuse and type 2 diabetes mellitus pose a high risk for offspring biliary atresia. If maternal etiology is found, biliary atresia might be a preventable disease.