Macau University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T.) Vice President and Chair Professor Paul Kwong Hang Tam published a key review article on biliary atresia, a serious liver disease in newborns, in the prestigious journal Nature Reviews Disease Primers (Impact Factor: 92.6). Nature Reviews Disease Primers provides valuable information for doctors, medical students and researchers, offering easy-to-understand summaries of important diseases. This review on BA will be an invaluable resource for understanding the latest advances in its diagnosis and treatment.
Biliary atresia (BA) is a life-threatening condition that affects the bile ducts in newborns, leading to obstructive jaundice and ultimately liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. It affects approximately 1 in 5,000 to 20,000 babies, with higher rates in Asia. While the exact cause is still unknown, ongoing research points to a combination of perinatal injury and inappropriate response. The primary treatment is surgery to restore bile flow. However, many children eventually need a liver transplant. Professor Tam’s review highlights the importance of early diagnosis and specialized care to improve survival rates and quality of life for children with BA. It also emphasizes the need for further research to aim for a cure. “By understanding more about the mechanisms underlying this devastating disease, we can develop new and better ways to treat it and help these children live healthier lives,” says Professor Tam.
Professor Tam appreciates the collective effort in this review, involving international experts and young researchers. “Our aim is to make M.U.S.T. a leading center for medical research, especially in understanding and fighting against challenging pediatric diseases like BA,” he states.
The full article can be accessed via the following link:
