OBJECTIVES: Although screening for biliary atresia (BA) is associated with improved outcomes, no screening program currently exists in the United States. In this study, we explore the possibility of a screening strategy based on newborn direct or conjugated bilirubin (DB or CB) measurements. Our objective is to estimate testing's sensitivity and specificity for BA. METHODS: Two groups were examined retrospectively. For sensitivity calculations, a BA group consisting of infants born between January 2011 and December 2014, diagnosed with BA, and cared for at a pediatric gastroenterology referral center was examined. For specificity calculations, a non-BA group that comprised of infants born between June 2009 and August 2011 in a hospital with a policy of checking newborn bilirubin concentrations was studied. RESULTS: All 35 infants with newborn DB or CB measurements in the BA group had elevated concentrations, translating to a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI 87.7-100). In the non-BA group, 8936 of 9102 infants had DB concentrations within the laboratory's reference interval, translating to a specificity of 98.2% (95% CI 97.9-98.4). Three methods-calculating direct:total bilirubin ratios, using 99% reference intervals, and repeat testing-changed specificity to different degrees. CONCLUSIONS: Newborn DB or CB measurements may have a high sensitivity and specificity for BA. Specificity can be further improved by using 99% reference intervals and/or repeat testing. Our findings can serve as the foundation for larger prospective studies, to determine whether newborn DB or CB measurements can be an effective screening strategy for BA.
OBJECTIVES: Although screening for biliary atresia (BA) is associated with improved outcomes, no screening program currently exists in the United States. In this study, we explore the possibility of a screening strategy based on newborn direct or conjugated bilirubin (DB or CB) measurements. Our objective is to estimate testing's sensitivity and specificity for BA. METHODS: Two groups were examined retrospectively. For sensitivity calculations, a BA group consisting of infants born between January 2011 and December 2014, diagnosed with BA, and cared for at a pediatric gastroenterology referral center was examined. For specificity calculations, a non-BA group that comprised of infants born between June 2009 and August 2011 in a hospital with a policy of checking newborn bilirubin concentrations was studied. RESULTS: All 35 infants with newborn DB or CB measurements in the BA group had elevated concentrations, translating to a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI 87.7-100). In the non-BA group, 8936 of 9102 infants had DB concentrations within the laboratory's reference interval, translating to a specificity of 98.2% (95% CI 97.9-98.4). Three methods-calculating direct:total bilirubin ratios, using 99% reference intervals, and repeat testing-changed specificity to different degrees. CONCLUSIONS: Newborn DB or CB measurements may have a high sensitivity and specificity for BA. Specificity can be further improved by using 99% reference intervals and/or repeat testing. Our findings can serve as the foundation for larger prospective studies, to determine whether newborn DB or CB measurements can be an effective screening strategy for BA.
Authors: Sanjiv Harpavat; Philip J Lupo; Loriel Liwanag; John Hollier; Mary L Brandt; Milton J Finegold; Benjamin L Shneider Journal: J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr Date: 2018-06 Impact factor: 2.839
Authors: Kevin E Bove; Andrew D Thrasher; Robert Anders; Catherine T Chung; Oscar W Cummings; Milton J Finegold; Laura Finn; Sarangarajan Ranganathan; Grace E Kim; Mark Lovell; Margret S Magid; Hector Melin-Aldana; Pierre Russo; Bahig Shehata; Larry Wang; Francis White; Zhen Chen; Catherine Spino; John C Magee Journal: Am J Surg Pathol Date: 2018-12 Impact factor: 6.394
Authors: Sanjiv Harpavat; Joseph A Garcia-Prats; Carlos Anaya; Mary L Brandt; Philip J Lupo; Milton J Finegold; Alice Obuobi; Adel A ElHennawy; William S Jarriel; Benjamin L Shneider Journal: JAMA Date: 2020-03-24 Impact factor: 56.272