Analysis of the reversibility of biliary cirrhosis in young rats submitted to biliary obstruction followed by desobstruction

In this letter to the editor of Revista de Medicina, we present a summary of our study entitled “Analysis of the reversibility of biliary cirrhosis in young rats submitted to biliary obstruction followed by desobstruction”, presented at the XXXV COMU in 2016 - 1st place of Oswaldo Cruz award, surgical area.Biliary atresia and other liver conditions are relevant in pediatric clinic, due to its progression into biliary cirrhosis and eventually, necessity for liver transplant. It is known that the period during which biliary obstruction persists is determining for the development of cirrhosis and its reversibility after a biliary drainage procedure. However, there are no time or histological markers of biliary cirrhosis reversibility. An animal model of biliary obstruction and desobstruction was employed and after histologic and molecular analysis, we concluded that, considering the high mortality rate and the improvement in histologic and molecular changes after biliary drainage in most groups, cirrhosis and its histological and molecular changes occur early after biliary obstruction, are severe and potentially fatal, but can be reversed or at least delayed after biliary drainage.