Serum hyaluronic acid as an early prognostic marker in biliary atresia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess whether serum concentrations of hyaluronic acid (HA), measured at diagnosis is an early biochemical marker of prognosis in biliary atresia.


METHODS
Serum HA was measured at diagnosis using a radiometric assay in 84 infants with biliary atresia (BA), and related to outcome by 5 years of age.


RESULTS
Serum HA was higher in the 29 patients who died or required liver transplant by 5 years of age compared with the 56 who survived to 5 years without transplant (490 +/- 216 microg/L v 262 +/- 163 microg/L; P <.001, 95% confidence intervals of the difference 145 to 311 microg/L).


CONCLUSIONS
High serum concentrations of HA at diagnosis may help to identify at an early stage those patients with BA who have a poor prognosis and will require liver transplant by 5 years of age.
Dhawan
A
A
Department of Child Health, King's College Hospital, London, England.
Trivedi
P
P
Cheeseman
P
P
Baker
A J
AJ
Howard
E R
ER
Mieli-Vergani
G
G
D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000367:Age Factors; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011171:Portoenterostomy, Hepatic; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve
D015415:Biomarkers; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D001663:Bilirubin