[The pathogenesis of hypercholesterolemia after biliary obstruction (author's transl)]

[Hypertension and bilateral stenosis of the renal artery associated with congenital hypoplasia of the intrahepatic bile ducts (author's transl)]

Report of a 10-year-old boy with congenital hypoplasia of the intrahepatic bile ducts, the socalled MacMahon-Thannhauser-Syndrome. The patient had been suffering from a varying degree of jaundice since his 2nd day of life and from pruritus since his 21st month of life. Furthermore, he had hepatomegaly, a systolic cardiac murmur, hypogenitalism, retarded growth, and finally hypertension. Transitory xanthomas existed between 1 3/4 and 2 3/4 years of age. Signs of persistent intrahepatic cholestasis was manifested by increased levels of bilirubin and bile acids in serum as well as raised activities of leucine aminopeptidase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase. Pathological values of serum glutamic dehydrogenase pointed to a persistent destruction of liver cells. Without treatment, the activities of vitamin K dependent clotting factors were decreased. Cholesterol, phosphatides and triglycerides in serum were increased and lipoprotein-X was detectable. Aortography revealed stenosis of both renal arteries. An exploratory laparotomy and 5 liver biopsies led to the diagnosis of hypoplasia of the intrahepatic bile ducts. Therapeutic trials with steroids and the anion exchange resin "cholestyramine" were ineffective. Phenobarbital relieved the pruritus. Parenteral administration of fat soluble vitamins restored the activity of vitamin K dependent clotting factors to normal. The high blood pressure fell significantly due to treatment with adelphan. The etiology of hypoplasia of the intrahepatic bile ducts is unknown. It may be a malformation or an obliteration secondary to inflammation. In our patient, narrowing of the renal arteries, increase of plasma-renin activity and hypertension were probably secondary to hyperlipidemia. It has been suggested that hyperlipemia secondary to cholestasis may be due to a disturbance of lipoprotein metabolism. A review of reports on 118 patients suffering from intrahepatic bile ducts hypoplasia is included.