A Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Changes of Physiological Mechanisms in Children After Biliary Tract Reconstruction

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are conducting a long-term observational study to understand how physiological changes in children after biliary tract reconstruction affect their health over time. The study focuses on changes in liver function, metabolism, immune response, and other bodily functions as children grow. It also evaluates the risks these changes might pose for chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and liver cirrhosis in adulthood, as well as their effects on cognitive and musculoskeletal health. The goal is to identify early biomarkers that predict future health outcomes and to suggest preventive or intervention strategies to reduce long-term complications. The study follows children diagnosed with biliary atresia or choledochal cyst who have undergone biliary reconstruction surgery. A control group of healthy children matched by age and gender will also be observed for comparison. Researchers will collect samples and data at multiple time points: before surgery, then at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after surgery. These data include targeted metabolic components detected in feces and plasma, along with fecal metagenomic sequencing. Participants will be monitored over several years through scheduled assessments to track metabolic and microbiome changes. The study will measure specific metabolic components in fecal and blood samples at each time point to observe ongoing physiological changes. By following both surgical patients and healthy controls, researchers aim to understand the long-term impacts of biliary reconstruction on children's health and identify ways to reduce future health risks. The study enrollment starts in May 2025 and continues until April 2035.

A Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Changes of Physiological Mechanisms in Children After Biliary Tract Reconstruction