Human ontogeny of the bile duct to portal space ratio
Ellen Kahn, James Markowitz, Harvey Aiges, Fredric Daum – 1 July 1989 – Paucity of interlobular bile ducts is a common feature of cholestatic liver disease in premature infants. Whereas a bile duct to portal space ratio of 0.9 to 1.8 is cited by Alagille as the norm for children, there are no data regarding the normal bile duct to portal space ratio in preterm infants. In this study, by examining liver tissue obtained from autopsied fetuses and infants, we have determined that the bile duct to portal space ratio increases as a function of postconceptional age.