Commentary on “Outcomes of Allogenic Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Infusion for Liver Cirrhosis Due to Biliary Atresia After Kasai Operation” JPEDSURG-D-25-00654R2

The Vietnamese team led by Prof. Nguyen Thanh Liem contributes important work based on the cutting-edge application of cell-based therapy in biliary atresia (BA). This is, potentially, an exciting area working in a field characterised essentially by complete failure to influence the morbid march of liver fibrosis and ultimately failure of the post-Kasai (KPE) portoenterostomy child born with BA [1]. The 16 infants in the study group underwent KPE at a relatively advanced median age of 81 days with 75 % having severe fibrosis (METAVIR F3 or F4 (cirrhosis)) on the initial liver biopsy.