Publication Date
4-1-2024
Journal
eJIFCC - The electronic Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
PMID
38706735
PMCID
PMC11063787
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
4-11-2024
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
biliary atresia, conjugated bilirubin, cord blood
Abstract
Early detection of biliary atresia is crucial for timely intervention and improved outcomes in infants with elevated conjugated bilirubin levels. This study aims to investigate the viability of cord blood gas analysis as a novel method for assessing conjugated bilirubin levels. Infants with high heel stick levels also showed elevated cord blood bilirubin levels, indicating that cord blood testing could replace the need for repeat heel stick tests, especially benefiting low birth weight infants. Ongoing research, including larger cohorts and alternative bilirubin measurement methods, will further validate this innovative screening approach. Infants with biliary atresia have high conjugated bilirubin levels at birth. As a result, infants can be screened with newborn conjugated bilirubin measurements, to allow for early detection, timely treatment, and the best chances of delaying or even avoiding the need for a liver transplant [1]. An important limitation of screening, however, is that infants must undergo a separate blood test. To overcome this limitation, we investigated whether conjugated bilirubin measurements from cord blood could be useful.
Included in
Immunology of Infectious Disease Commons, Immunopathology Commons, Medical Immunology Commons, Pathology Commons