Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Biliary Atresia

Biliary atresia is a progressive liver disease in infants where liver transplantation is often the only long-term option once cirrhosis develops. However, organ shortages, high costs, risks of graft rejection, and the need for lifelong immunosuppression make transplantation difficult for many families. This double-blind randomized clinical trial evaluates whether injecting umbilical cord-mesenchymal stem cells directly into the liver during Kasai portoenterostomy is safe and effective as an additional treatment. Umbilical cord stem cells have strong anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties, and they carry a low risk of immune rejection. Patients undergoing the Kasai procedure are randomly assigned to receive either direct intrahepatic stem cell injections or a placebo. Participants are followed for 180 days post-surgery to monitor safety, liver function, and changes in liver stiffness.