What complication can arise from untreated biliary atresia?

Biliary atresia is a serious condition affecting the bile ducts in infants, leading to obstructed bile flow from the liver to the intestine. When this condition is untreated, it results in a buildup of bile in the liver, causing progressive liver damage. Over time, this can lead to fibrosis and ultimately cirrhosis, which is the end stage of chronic liver disease characterized by scarring and loss of liver function.

Cirrhosis is a critical complication of biliary atresia because it significantly impacts liver health and can result in severe complications, including liver failure, portal hypertension, and the need for liver transplantation.

While jaundice can be an early sign of biliary atresia due to impaired bile flow and is often one of the first symptoms observed, it is not a complication in the way cirrhosis is, but rather a symptom of the underlying issue. Hepatitis and pancreatitis are also related conditions, but they are not direct complications arising specifically from untreated biliary atresia. Thus, cirrhosis is the most significant long-term complication when biliary atresia is left untreated.