Effect of liver transplantation in a twin for biliary atresia on physical development and intellectual performance: Report of a case

A case of twins, one of whom suffered from biliary atresia, is described herein. Although the patient had been doing well until 11 years of age after previously undergoing a primary hepatic portoenterostomy, she had to then undergo a liver transplantation due to severe refractory cholangitis at 14 years of age. Although the patient's intellectual performance had severely declined due to the progression of her illness for several years, it completely recovered after the liver transplantation. In cases where the physical development in childhood has been well preserved, liver transplantation might therefore offer the chance for a full recovery of deteriorated intellectual performance.