Delayed puberty in girls having biliary atresia

Abstract

Biliary atresia patients have several problems even after undergoing successful Kasai operation. Fourteen female patients have been followed for over 12 years after successful Kasai original portoenterostomy procedures. The oldest patient is 21 years of age. All patients are jaundice-free, but 10 patients have a history of esophageal varices and/or hypersplenism. Five patients complain of menstrual disorders. The average age of menarche was delayed 1 year, 9 months, compared with Japanese controls. Two cases of 11 (18.2%) presented primary amenorrhea after 14 years, 6 months, which is mean + 2SD of Japanese controls. Four cases of 11 (36.4%) showed secondary amenorrhea. Unestablished menstrual cycles after 2 years of menarche were observed in two patients of nine (22.2%). Four cases had regular menstruation. Five patients showed delay in the development of pubic hair and breasts. Six patients showed atypical body height velocity pattern that showed no peaking, and one patient showed no growth spurt. All the patients with amenorrhea had portal hypertension. In hormonal evaluation, the patients with menstruation showed normal or slightly good reaction of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone in the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone test, having normal to high estradiol levels. The patients with menstrual abnormality showed overreaction of LH, having normal estradiol levels.