Clinical significance of liver histology on outcomes in biliary atresia

Predicting Cirrhosis and Poor Outcomes of Bile Drainage Surgery for Biliary Atresia: A Multicentric Observational Study in Japan

OBJECTIVE

To identify patients with biliary atresia (BA) with extremely poor outcomes of bile drainage surgery using the infant BA liver fibrosis (iBALF) score, a liver fibrosis marker based on standard blood analysis.

BACKGROUND

Although primary liver transplantation is beginning to be considered as an alternative to bile drainage surgery in patients with BA, those most likely to benefit from this procedure have not yet been identified.

METHODS

The medical records of 380 patients with BA with bile drainage surgery between 2015 and 2019 were collected for retrospective analysis from 60 participating hospitals. To predict native liver survival at age 1 year, a receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn for the iBALF score. The cutoff value was determined as the point indicating >99% sensitivity.

RESULTS

The median age at surgery was 56 days (range: 4-183 days), and native liver survival at age 1 year was achieved in 258 (67.9%) patients. An iBALF score of 5.27 was chosen as the cutoff, and 18 patients (4.7%) were found to have an iBALF score >5.27; of these, only 2 (95% CI: 1.4%-34.7%) had native liver survival at age 1 year, indicating a significantly poorer outcome than in the other patients (95% CI: 65.7%-75.4%). Moreover, patients with an iBALF score >5.27 had significantly higher mortality and younger age at salvage liver transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with BA having a preoperative iBALF score >5.27 had extremely poor outcomes of bile drainage surgery and may be considered candidates for primary LTx.

Early bile drainage improves native liver survival in biliary atresia without cholangitis

Objectives

To explore the outcomes and related factors in children without cholangitis after Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the data of infants with type III BA who underwent KPE from June 2016 to December 2021. We compared and analyzed the difference in native liver survival (NLS) rates in different types of cholangitis. We also investigated the relationship between the absence of cholangitis and the effect of early bile drainage (EBD) as well as the related factors affecting EBD efficacy.

Results

A total of 145 children were included in this study. Among these children, 82 (56.6%, 82/145) had cholangitis, including 40 (48.8%, 40/82) with early cholangitis and 33 (40.2%, 33/82) with recurrent cholangitis. The median follow-up period was 29 months (range, 2-75 months). The NLS rates were 67.6%, 51.7%, 45.5% and 43.4% at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 5 years following KPE, while the NLS rates for infants without cholangitis after KPE were 68.3%, 50.8%, 46.0% and 46.0%, respectively. Higher gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ- GT) and total bile acid (TBA) before KPE were risk factors for cholangitis (P < 0.05). The NLS rate in recurrent cholangitis was significantly lower than that in occasional cholangitis (P < 0.01). Compared with the EBD-poor group, the NLS rate in the EBD-good group of infants was significantly increased (P < 0.001). EBD was significantly correlated with the occurrence and frequency of cholangitis (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Recurrent cholangitis was an important factor affecting NLS. For children without cholangitis after KPE, early bile drainage was better, and the NLS was longer.

Development of liver inflammatory injury in biliary atresia: from basic to clinical research

Biliary atresia (BA) is a severe cholangiopathy in infants. It is characterized by inflammatory fibro-obliteration of the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts. Although the restoration of bile flow can be successful after Kasai operation, the rapid progression of liver fibrosis can continue, leading to cirrhosis. It is believed that the progression of liver fibrosis in BA is exacerbated by complicated mechanisms other than the consequence of bile duct obstruction. The fibrogenic cascade in BA liver can be divided into three stages, including liver inflammatory injury, myofibroblast activation, and fibrous scar formation. Recent studies have revealed that the activation of an immune response following bile duct injury plays an important role in promoting the inflammatory process, the releasing of inflammatory cytokines, and the development of fibrogenesis in BA liver. In this article, we summarized the evidence regarding liver inflammatory injury and the possible mechanisms that explain the rapid progression of liver fibrosis in BA.

Kasai portoenterostomy delays: Is a HIDA scan worth the wait?

BACKGROUND

Biliary Atresia (BA), an obstructive cholangiopathy, is the most common cause of end-stage liver disease and liver transplantation in children. Timely differentiation of BA from other causes of neonatal jaundice remains a challenge, yet is critical to improving outcomes.

METHODS

Clinical characteristics including demographics, age at jaundice presentation, age at hepatobiliary scintigraphy, age at surgery, severity of liver fibrosis, and native-liver survival were reviewed in infants with hyperbilirubinemia and suspected BA for this single center retrospective cohort study. We investigated the accuracy of hepatobiliary scintigraphy as well as elapsed time from jaundice presentation to diagnostic intervention.

RESULTS

BA was suspected in 234 infants. BA was identified in 17% of infants with hepatobiliary scintigraphy and 72% of infants who underwent operative exploration without hepatobiliary scintigraphy. Elapsed time from jaundice presentation to Kasai Portoenterostomy (KPE) for BA patients was 2.1x longer if hepatobiliary scintigraphy was obtained (p = 0.084). The mean age at KPE for this cohort was 66.8 days (n = 54), with a significantly higher mean age at KPE (75.2 days) for infants who were later listed or underwent liver transplantation (p = 0.038). Histologically, the lowest liver fibrosis scores were seen in infants undergoing KPE <30 days old and worsened significantly with increased age (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy compared to operative exploration for the diagnostic evaluation of infants with suspected BA introduces significant time delays to KPE but enables avoidance of surgery in some infants. The temporal pattern of worsening cholestatic liver injury from BA with each day of increased age highlights the importance of intervening as early as possible for the best prognosis.

TYPE OF STUDY

Retrospective study, Level of evidence: III.

Identification of Early Clinical and Histological Factors Predictive of Kasai Portoenterostomy Failure

Background: It is impossible to predict which patients with biliary atresia (BA) will fail after Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE). We evaluated the predictive nature of pre-KPE clinical and histological factors on transplant-free survival (TFS) and jaundice clearance. Methods: A retrospective review of patients who received a KPE at our institution (1997−2018) was performed. Primary outcomes were two-year TFS, five-year TFS, and jaundice clearance 3 months after KPE. p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Fifty-four patients were included in this study. The two-year TFS was 35.1%, five-year TFS was 24.5%, and 37% patients reached a direct bilirubin (DB) ≤ 2.0 mg/dL 3 months post KPE. The median age at biopsy was younger in the five-year TFS (39.0 (24.5−55.5) vs. 56.0 days (51.0−67.0), p = 0.011). Patients with DB ≤ 1.0 mg/dL 3 months after KPE were statistically younger at biopsy (DB ≤ 1.0 44.0 (26.0−56.0) vs. DB > 1.0 56.0 days (51.0−69.0), p = 0.016). Ductal plate malformation was less frequent in the five-year TFS (16/17, 94.1%, vs. 1/17, 5.9%, p = 0.037). Portal fibrosis (19/23, 82.6%, vs. 4/23, 17.4%, p = 0.028) and acute cholangitis (6/7, 85.7%, vs. 1/7, 14.3%, p = 0.047) occurred less frequently in two-year TFS. Conclusion: Older age at biopsy, acute cholangitis, portal fibrosis, and ductal plate malformation were associated with lower native liver survival. Evaluation in a larger study population is needed to validate these results.

Peri-Operative Liver Fibrosis and Native Liver Survival in Pediatric Patients with Biliary Atresia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

No systematic review to date has examined histopathological parameters in relation to native liver survival in children who undergo the Kasai operation for biliary atresia (BA). A systematic review and meta-analysis is presented, comparing the frequency of native liver survival in peri-operative severe vs. non-severe liver fibrosis cases, in addition to other reported histopathology parameters. Records were sourced from MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases. Studies followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and compared native liver survival frequencies in pediatric patients with evidence of severe vs. non-severe liver fibrosis, bile duct proliferation, cholestasis, lobular inflammation, portal inflammation, and giant cell transformation on peri-operative biopsies. The primary outcome was the frequency of native liver survival. A random effects meta-analysis was used. Twenty-eight observational studies were included, 1,171 pediatric patients with BA of whom 631 survived with their native liver. Lower odds of native liver survival in the severe liver fibrosis vs. non-severe liver fibrosis groups were reported (odds ratio [OR], 0.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08-0.33; I² =46%). No difference in the odds of native liver survival in the severe bile duct destruction vs. non-severe bile duct destruction groups were reported (OR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.00-63.63; I² =96%). Lower odds of native liver survival were documented in the severe cholestasis vs. non-severe cholestasis (OR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.01-0.73; I² =80%) and severe lobular inflammation vs. non-severe lobular inflammation groups (OR, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.00-0.62; I² =69%). There was no difference in the odds of native liver survival in the severe portal inflammation vs. non-severe portal inflammation groups (OR, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.00-3.22; I² =86%) or between the severe giant cell transformation vs. non-severe giant cell transformation groups (OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.00-175.21; I² =94%). The meta-analysis loosely suggests that the presence of severe liver fibrosis, cholestasis, and lobular inflammation are associated with lower odds of native liver survival in pediatric patients after Kasai.

Outcomes of Biliary Atresia in a Single Center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Background

Biliary atresia (BA) is a rare but severe cause of obliterative cholangiopathy in neonates. Its incidence differs worldwide varying from 5/100,000 to 32/100,000 live births. The highest incidence is seen in Asia and the Pacific region. Diagnosing this disease is difficult in its early stages; thus, screening is necessary to avoid serious complications that can be minimized with early intervention during the first few months of life. Currently, although there are no medical treatments for BA, once the diagnosis is confirmed, the Kasai procedure may be a treatment option. The earlier the Kasai surgery is performed, the higher the success rate. Liver transplantation may be needed if the operation fails. This study aimed to determine the incidence of BA and the factors influencing the outcomes of the Kasai procedure at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Methodology

This retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Pediatric Department at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah from January 2019 to July 2019 and included consecutive patients with BA from 2010 to 2018.

Results

In total, 14 patients (57.1% female) were included in the study. The median age at the time of presentation was 90 (19-720) days, and the median age at the time of implementing the Kasai procedure was 90 (60-150) days. Eight patients underwent the Kasai procedure, and only one patient had a liver transplant.

Conclusions

Antenatal screening for BA tended to ensure early diagnosis and better outcomes. Delay in diagnosis and intervention is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Long-term follow-up of biliary atresia using liver transient elastography

OBJECTIVE

Liver transient elastography (TE) using FibroScan® has gained popularity as a non-invasive technique to assess hepatic fibrosis by measuring liver stiffness. This study focused on biliary atresia patients post Kasai operation for more than 10 years to prospectively correlate the hepatic fibrosis score to the biochemical changes of liver fibrosis and clinical development of portal hypertensive complications.

METHODS

TE was performed in 37 patients who had biliary atresia post Kasai operation done at median age of 60 days. Biochemical indices of liver fibrosis including aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score based on age, platelet count, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase level were calculated at the time of TE. Platelet count, spleen size, varices, ascites and hepatic encephalopathy were evaluated as clinical markers of portal hypertension.

RESULTS

There were 22 female and 15 male with TE done at median age of 17.0 years. Median FibroScan^® fibrosis score was 11.4. Fibrosis score of 6.8 kilopascal (kPa) was taken as the upper reference limit of normal. Nine patients (24%) had normal fibrosis score. Score above or equal to 6.8 kPa was significantly associated with lower platelet level (p = 0.001), higher INR (p = 0.043), higher APRI (p = 0.021), higher FIB-4 score (p = 0.013), and larger splenic diameter (p = 0.004). Higher FibroScan^® fibrosis score was also significantly associated with portal hypertensive complications (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The FibroScan^® fibrosis score correlated well with the biochemical changes of liver fibrosis and development of portal hypertensive complications clinically. Screening of portal hypertensive complications such as varices is recommended for patients with raised fibrosis score upon long-term follow-up.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Dynamic analysis of serum MMP-7 and its relationship with disease progression in biliary atresia: a multicenter prospective study

PURPOSE

We aimed to assess the dynamic changing trend of serum matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) in biliary atresia (BA) patients from diagnosis to LTx to further elucidate its clinical value in diagnosis and prognoses and its relationship with disease progression.

METHODS

In this multicentre prospective study, 440 cholestasis patients (direct bilirubin level of > 17 μmol/L) were enrolled. Serum MMP-7 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at diagnosis, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 6 weeks, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months and then every 6 months post-KPE. The medical record at each follow-up visit for post-Kasai portoenterostomy patient was collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Using a cut-off value of > 26.73 ng/mL, serum MMP-7 had an AUC of 0.954 in BA neonates and 0.983 in BA infants. A genetic mutation (G137D) was associated with low MMP-7 levels in serum of BA patients. MMP-7 showed a mediation effect on the association between inflammation and liver fibrosis in BA patients. Four dynamic patterns of serum MMP-7 post-KPE were associated with prognosis. Serum MMP-7 was the only significant predictor at 6 weeks post-KPE and the most accurate predictor at 3 months post-KPE of survival with the native liver in 2 years.

CONCLUSION

As one of the critical factors associated with BA occurrence and progression, serum MMP-7 can be used for early diagnosis of BA and post-KPE MMP-7 level is the earliest prognostic biomarker so far.

Cholangitis Definition and Treatment after Kasai Hepatoportoenterostomy for Biliary Atresia: A Delphi Process and International Expert Panel

(1) Background: Acute cholangitis during the first year after Kasai hepatoportoenterostomy (HPE) has a negative impact on patient and native liver survival. There are no consistent guidelines for the definition, treatment, and prophylaxis of cholangitis after HPE. The aim of this study was to develop definition, treatment, and prophylaxis guidelines to allow for expeditious management and for standardization in reporting. (2) Methods: the Delphi method, an extensive literature review, iterative rounds of surveys, and expert panel discussions were used to establish definition, treatment, and prophylaxis guidelines for cholangitis in the first year after HPE. (3) Results: Eight elements (pooled into two groups: clinical and laboratory/imaging) were identified to define cholangitis after HPE. The final proposed definitions for suspected and confirmed cholangitis are a combination of one element, respectively, two elements from each group; furthermore, the finding of a positive blood culture was added to the definition of confirmed cholangitis. The durations for prophylaxis and treatment of suspected and confirmed cholangitis were uniformly agreed upon by the experts. (4) Conclusions: for the first time, an international consensus was found for guidelines for definition, treatment, and prophylaxis for cholangitis during the first year after Kasai HPE. Applicability will need further prospective multicentered studies.

Short- and long-term outcomes after Kasai operation for type III biliary atresia: Twenty years of experience in a single tertiary Egyptian center-A retrospective cohort study

Kasai portoenterostomy(KPE) is the treatment of choice for the fatal devastating infantile type III biliary atresia (BA). The study aimed to analyze short-and long-term outcomes after this procedure and their predictors in a tertiary center.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 410 infants who underwent KPE for type III BA in the period from February 2000 to December 2019. The overall male/female ratio was 186/224.

RESULTS

The early (>6months) complications involved 187(45.6%) of our infants with a higher incidence of early cholangitis that affected 108(26.3%) of them. The jaundice clearance at the 6th post-operative month that reached 138(33.7%) of them had an independent correlation with mild portal tracts ductal and/or ductular proliferation, using postoperative steroids therapy, and absence of early postoperative cholangitis. The early infant mortality that affected 70(17.1%) of our patients was mostly from sepsis. On the other hand, late (<6months) patients complications and mortalities affected 256(62.4%) and 240(58.5%) of patients respectively; moreover, liver failure and sepsis were the most frequent causes of late mortalities in non-transplanted and transplanted cases respectively. Lastly, the long-term (20-year) native liver survival (NLS) that reached 91(22.2%) of patients had an independent correlation with age at operation ≤ 90 days, higher preoperative mean serum alb, portal tract fibrosis grades F0 and F1, absence of intraoperative bleeding, absence of post-operative cholangitis, the occurrence of jaundice clearance at the 6th postoperative month and absence of post-operative portal hypertension (PHN).

CONCLUSIONS

Sepsis had a direct effect on early and late patient mortalities after Kasai operation for type III BA; moreover, patient age at operation<90 days, higher fibrosis grades, the occurrence of postoperative cholangitis and PHN, and persistence of post-operative jaundice had negative insult on long-term postoperative outcome. So, it is crucial to modulate these factors for a better outcome.

Short- and long-term outcomes after Kasai operation for type III biliary atresia: Twenty years of experience in a single tertiary Egyptian center-A retrospective cohort study

Kasai portoenterostomy(KPE) is the treatment of choice for the fatal devastating infantile type III biliary atresia (BA). The study aimed to analyze short-and long-term outcomes after this procedure and their predictors in a tertiary center.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 410 infants who underwent KPE for type III BA in the period from February 2000 to December 2019. The overall male/female ratio was 186/224.

RESULTS

The early (>6months) complications involved 187(45.6%) of our infants with a higher incidence of early cholangitis that affected 108(26.3%) of them. The jaundice clearance at the 6th post-operative month that reached 138(33.7%) of them had an independent correlation with mild portal tracts ductal and/or ductular proliferation, using postoperative steroids therapy, and absence of early postoperative cholangitis. The early infant mortality that affected 70(17.1%) of our patients was mostly from sepsis. On the other hand, late (<6months) patients complications and mortalities affected 256(62.4%) and 240(58.5%) of patients respectively; moreover, liver failure and sepsis were the most frequent causes of late mortalities in non-transplanted and transplanted cases respectively. Lastly, the long-term (20-year) native liver survival (NLS) that reached 91(22.2%) of patients had an independent correlation with age at operation ≤ 90 days, higher preoperative mean serum alb, portal tract fibrosis grades F0 and F1, absence of intraoperative bleeding, absence of post-operative cholangitis, the occurrence of jaundice clearance at the 6th postoperative month and absence of post-operative portal hypertension (PHN).

CONCLUSIONS

Sepsis had a direct effect on early and late patient mortalities after Kasai operation for type III BA; moreover, patient age at operation<90 days, higher fibrosis grades, the occurrence of postoperative cholangitis and PHN, and persistence of post-operative jaundice had negative insult on long-term postoperative outcome. So, it is crucial to modulate these factors for a better outcome.

Predicting native liver injury and survival in biliary atresia

Several patient and treatment related factors significantly modify outcomes of biliary atresia. The extremely variable prognosis mandates intensive postoperative monitoring following portoenterostomy. Accurate prediction of outcome and progression of liver injury would enable individualized treatment and follow-up protocols, patient counseling and meaningful stratification of patients into clinical trials. While results on most biomarkers of cholestasis, hepatocyte function, fibrosis and inflammation studied so far are inconsistent or have not been validated in independent patient cohorts, postoperative serum bilirubin level 3 months after portoenterostomy remains the most accurate clinically feasible predictor of native liver survival. Although liver stiffness and a novel marker of cholangiocyte integrity, serum matrix metalloproteinase-7, correlate with liver fibrosis and may discriminate biliary atresia from other causes of neonatal cholestasis, further information on their ability to predict portoenterostomy outcomes is needed. Recent gene expression profiling has shown promise in overcoming the sampling error associated with histological quantification of liver fibrosis, and provides an important possibility to stratify patients for clinical trials according to the prognosis of native liver survival already preoperatively. As activity and extent of ductular reaction is linked with progression of liver fibrosis in cholangiopathies, further research is also warranted to evaluate predictive value of ductular reaction, matrix metalloproteinase-7 and the underlying gene expression signatures in relation to circulating bile acids in biliary atresia. Discovery of accurate predictive tools will ultimately increase our understanding of the unpredictable response to surgery and pathophysiology of progressive liver injury in biliary atresia.

Normal Gamma Glutamyl Transferase Levels at Presentation Predict Poor Outcome in Biliary Atresia

OBJECTIVES

Gamma-glutamyl transferase levels (GGT) are typically elevated in biliary atresia (BA), but normal GGT levels have been observed. This cohort of "normal GGT" BA has neither been described nor has the prognostic value of GGT level on outcomes in BA. We aimed to describe outcomes of a single-centre Australian cohort of infants with BA and assess the impact of GGT level at presentation on outcomes in BA.

METHODS

Infants diagnosed with BA between 1991 and 2017 were retrospectively analysed. Outcomes were defined as survival with native liver, liver transplantation (LT), and death. Patients were categorized into normal (<200I U/L) or high GGT groups based on a mean of 3 consecutive GGT values done before Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE). Baseline parameters, age at surgery, clearance of jaundice (COJ), and outcomes were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

One hundred thirteen infants underwent KPE at median 61 (30-149) days. At a median follow-up of 14.2 (0.9-26.3) years, 35% (39/113) patients were surviving with native liver, 55% (62/113) underwent LT and 11% (12/113) died pretransplant. 12.3% (14/113) patients had normal GGT. Age at KPE and time to COJ were similar between normal and high GGT groups. Normal GGT group had shorter time from KPE to LT (11 vs 18 months, P = 0.02), underwent LT at a younger age (14 vs 20 months, P = 0.04), and had poorer transplant-free survival (P = 0.04) than high GGT group.

CONCLUSIONS

12.3% of infants with BA had normal GGT levels at diagnosis. Low GGT levels at presentation in BA was associated with a poorer outcome.

Revisiting long-term prognostic factors of biliary atresia: A 20-year experience with 81 patients from a single center

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The present study aimed at investigating the long-term outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with biliary atresia (BA) diagnosed and followed at a single center.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with BA treated during 1994-2014 at a large-volume pediatric tertiary referral center were reviewed retrospectively with regard to demographic, clinical, laboratory, and diagnostic characteristics for identifying the prognostic factors and long-term clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

Overall, 81 patients (49 males, 32 females) were included. Mean age at diagnosis was 73.1±4.7 (median: 64) days. Of the patients included, 78 patients (96%) underwent a portoenterostomy procedure. Mean age at operation was 76.8±4.7 (median: 72) days. The surgical success rate was 64.8%. A younger age (either at diagnosis or surgery) was the only determinant of surgical success. The 2-, 5-, and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates, including all patients with or without liver transplantation, were 75%, 73%, and 71% respectively, whereas the 2-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates with native liver (SNL) were 69%, 61%, and 57%, respectively. Mean follow-up duration was 9.4±7.5 years. Successful surgery, presence of fibrosis and/or cirrhosis on the liver pathology, and prothrombin time [international normalized ratio (INR)] at presentation were independent prognostic factors for both OS and SNL.

CONCLUSION

A younger age at diagnosis is strongly associated with surgical success in BA. Surgical success, the prothrombin time (INR) at presentation, and liver pathology are independent prognostic factors affecting the long-term outcomes in patients with BA. Therefore, timely diagnosis and early referral to experienced surgical centers are crucial for optimal management and favorable long-term results in BA.

Evaluation of Perioperative Complications in the Management of Biliary Atresia

Purpose: To analyze the influence of perioperative complications in the management of biliary atresia (BA). Methods: A retrospective study was performed using a total of 422 BA patients who underwent Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) in a single institution between February 2016 and May 2017. Data on patients' clinical characteristics, laboratory examinations, perioperative complications, and outcomes were collected. Unpaired two-tailed t-test and χ² test were employed for the comparison between BA patients with and without perioperative complications. Cox regression analysis was used to screen the risk factors for 2-years NLS in BA, and their influence on the 2-years NLS was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis as well as the log-rank test. Results: The incidence of perioperative complications, 6-months jaundice clearance (JC) and 2-years native liver survival (NLS) rate were 60.4, 59.5, and 56.6%, respectively. Patients with perioperative complications had lower serum albumin (ALB) level, but higher aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and international normalized ratio (INR) levels when compared with those without perioperative complications (ALB, P < 0.05; APRI, P < 0.01; INR, P < 0.05). Moreover, perioperative complications were correlated with glucocorticoid administration (P = 0.002). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed no relationship between perioperative complications and 2-years NLS (P > 0.05). However, multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated 6-months JC was an independent protective factor for 2-years NLS [P < 0.0001, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.074, 95% confidence interval = 0.05-0.11], and concordance index of this prediction model including age, weight, APRI, glucocorticoid, and 6-months JC was 0.811. Conclusion: Although perioperative complication is common during and after KPE, it had no influence on the prognosis of BA. However, assessment of the serum level of total bilirubin after KPE may serve as an important predictor for the outcome in BA.

Predictors of Successful Kasai Portoenterostomy and Survival with Native Liver at 2 Years in Infants with Biliary Atresia

OBJECTIVES

Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) is the primary treatment for biliary atresia (BA) with subsequent liver transplantation in failed cases. The aim of this work was to study the outcome of KPE in children with BA and identify the factors predicting a successful KPE.

METHODS

Children diagnosed with BA and undergoing KPE between January 2010 and January 2018 were included in the study. A successful KPE was defined as decrease in bilirubin to less than 2 mg/dL at 6 months after KPE. Factors affecting the outcome (successful KPE and survival with native liver [SNL] at 2 years) were evaluated by logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 79 children with post-KPE BA were included. Successful KPE was achieved in 29 (36.7%) of 79 children undergoing KPE. The data for survival with native liver at 2 years were available for 61 children as 9 were lost to follow up before 2 years and another 9 were aged less than 2 years at the time of analysis. Twenty-seven (44.3%) of these 61 survived with their native liver at 2 years. On logistic regression analysis, lower age at KPE, use of postoperative steroids and absence of cholangitis were significant predictors of a successful KPE. A successful KPE at 6 months was the lone independent predictor of SNL at 2 years in these children.

CONCLUSION

Early age at KPE, use of postoperative steroid and prevention of cholangitis can result in successful KPE. Those with successful KPE are likely to survive with their native liver at 2 years.

Intravenous immunoglobulin for the treatment of intractable cholangitis after Kasai portoenterostomy in biliary atresia patients

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) as add-on treatment for intractable cholangitis (IC) after Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) in biliary atresia (BA) patients.

METHODS

113 BA patients who had one or more episodes of cholangitis after KPE were recruited in this study. According to whether response to routine conservative treatment, all patients were divided into IC group and simple cholangitis (SC) group. Meanwhile, patients with IC subdivided into IVIG group and control group according to whether application of IVIG.

RESULTS

The IC group had higher serum procalcitonin (PCT) (P = 0.014), C-reactive protein (CRP) (P = 0.023), and γ-Gltamyltranspeptidase (γ-GGT) (P = 0.031) level than the SC group. The IVIG group had shorter duration of fever after treatment (P = 0.011) and length of hospital stay (P = 0.018) than the control group. The time until recurrent episode of cholangitis was significant longer in IVIG group than in control group (P = 0.019).

CONCLUSIONS

IVIG as add-on treatment may be an effective treatment for the cholangitis acute episode, and we conclude by calling for more prospective studies to attest to the role of IVIG in the treatment of cholangitis.

Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging for Assessing Liver Fibrosis Preoperatively in Infants With Biliary Atresia: Comparison With Liver Fibrosis Biopsy Pathology

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) in assessing liver fibrosis preoperatively in infants with biliary atresia (BA).

METHODS

A total of 50 consecutive infants with BA and 50 healthy infants who underwent ARFI examination were recruited. Siemens Acuson S2000 in Virtual Touch Quantification mode (Siemens Medical Solutions, Mountain View, CA) was used to measure shear wave speeds (SWSs). All infants with BA underwent a liver biopsy within 3 days after ARFI imaging. The liver fibrosis stages of specimens were defined according to the Batts-Ludwig scoring system. The correlation analysis was performed between SWSs and pathological findings. Cut-off values were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

The mean SWS in the BA group was significantly higher than controls (mean ± standard deviation): 1.89 ± 0.45 versus 1.12 ± 0.06 m/s; P < .001). A significant correlation was found between the SWSs and fibrosis stages (r = 0.719, P < .001). The cut-off value for predicting significant fibrosis (F ≥ 2), severe fibrosis (F ≥ 3), and cirrhosis (F = 4) was 1.53, 1.80 and 2.16 m/s, respectively, and the area under the ROC curve was 0.823, 0.884 and 0.917, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging showed significant correlation with the severity of liver fibrosis by comparing it with liver fibrosis biopsy pathology. It may be an effective method for liver fibrosis assessment, prognosis prediction, and clinical management in infants with BA.

Early and Peri-operative Prognostic Indicators in Infants Undergoing Hepatic Portoenterostomy for Biliary Atresia: a Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Biliary atresia is the most common indication for liver transplantation among children. In recent years, prospective, multi-centre collaboration has been underway with the aim of providing high-quality data on the natural history of the condition, prior to and following hepatic portoenterostomy.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is increasing evidence that specific histological findings, and age, at the time of portoenterostomy have relevance as prognostic indicators. Recent data suggest that the sub-type of biliary atresia, its co-existence with other anomalies and concurrent infection may also be important variables. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the histological predictors of outcome following portoenterostomy. Later age at portoenterostomy, advanced degree of hepatic fibrosis and co-existence with other congenital anomalies are strongly correlated with poor outcomes following portoenterostomy. There is increasing evidence to suggest that common serological indices and the presence or absence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) co-infection may have utility as early prognostic indicators.