Environmental variables may have a role in biliary atresia pathogenesis (BA). The purpose of this epidemiological study was to investigate the connections between the prevalence of BA, the prevalence of proven viral or bacterial infections, and population density, as well as the geographical and temporal clustering of BA in the Netherlands. BA incidence was estimated for each province and compared to the province with the greatest population density. Birthplaces were divided into two categories: rural and urban. The month of birth and month of conception were examined in terms of temporal clustering. Researchers conducted separate analyses for isolated BA (IBA) and syndromic BA (SBA). A total of 262 IBA patients and 49 SBA patients born between 1987 and 2018 were included in the study. The prevalence of IBA was associated with the number of confirmed infections, such as Chlamydia trachomatis and adenovirus. Groningen had a greater incidence of IBA and SBA, whereas Gelderland had a higher incidence of SBA. The prevalence of IBA was 68 percent greater in rural regions than in urban ones. The estimated month of conception for SBA patients was November.
The incidence of IBA was very marginally linked to the number of confirmed illnesses in the country. In the Netherlands, the prevalence of IBA and SBA varied geographically. IBA was more common in rural regions than in metropolitan areas, which might be attributed to less exposure to pathogens. Their findings support the idea that environmental variables play a role in the aetiology of IBA.
