Serum markers may distinguish biliary atresia from other forms of neonatal cholestasis.

ABSTRACT:

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.

Patients and 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 B

SUBMITTER: Wang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2881691 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature