Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Biliary Atresia

Biliary atresia is a progressive liver disease in infants where liver transplantation isoften the only long‐term option once cirrhosis develops. However, organ shortages, highcosts, risks of graft rejection, and the need for lifelong immunosuppression maketransplantation difficult for many families. This double‐blind randomized clinical trialevaluates whether injecting umbilical cord‐mesenchymal stem cells directly into the liverduring Kasai portoenterostomy is safe and effective as an additional treatment. Umbilicalcord stem cells have strong anti‐inflammatory and anti‐fibrotic properties, and theycarry a low risk of immune rejection. Patients undergoing the Kasai procedure arerandomly assigned to receive either direct intrahepatic stem cell injections or aplacebo. Participants are followed for 180 days post‐surgery to monitor safety, liverfunction, and changes in liver stiffness.