Serum markers may distinguish biliary atresia from other forms of neonatal cholestasis.
BACKGROUND
Biliary atresia (BA) is the most serious liver disease in infants. Diagnosis currently depends on surgical exploration of the biliary tree. Noninvasive tests that distinguish BA from other types of neonatal liver disease are not available.


METHODS
To identify potential serum biomarkers that classify children with neonatal cholestasis, we performed 2-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis, statistical analysis, and tandem mass spectrometry using serum samples from 19 infants with BA and 19 infants with non-BA neonatal cholestasis.


RESULTS
Eleven potential serum biomarkers were found that could in combination classify children with neonatal cholestasis.


CONCLUSIONS
Although no single biomarker or imaging test adequately distinguishes BA from other types of neonatal cholestasis, combinations of biomarkers, imaging tests, and noninvasive clinical criteria should be further explored as potential tests for rapid and accurate diagnosis of BA.
Wang
Hongtao
H
Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Malone
James P
JP
Gilmore
Petra Erdmann
PE
Davis
Alan E
AE
Magee
John C
JC
Townsend
R Reid
RR
Heuckeroth
Robert O
RO
D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins