Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2019, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (31): 5046-5051.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.1426

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Plasma alpha-fetoprotein and other biochemical indicators for constructing early diagnosis models of potential biliary atresia in children

Yang Tianqi1, Hu Xiaowen1, Zhou Kejun2, Wan Chunling1   

  1.  (1Bio-X Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China; 2Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Medicine, Shanghai 200093, China)
  • Received:2019-05-08 Online:2019-11-08 Published:2019-11-08
  • Contact: Zhou Kejun, Research assistant, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Medicine, Shanghai 200093, China Corresponding author: Wan Chunling, Researcher, Doctoral supervisor, Bio-X Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
  • About author:Yang Tianqi, Master candidate, Bio-X Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
  • Supported by:

    the Shanghai Health and Family Planning Commission Research Project, No. 201640153 (to ZKJ)

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Biliary atresia is not suitable as a method for early diagnosis because it mainly depends on intraoperative diagnosis, and the operation is complicated, and there is a great injury to the child. Therefore, finding simple and effective blood biochemical diagnostic indicators will improve early diagnosis efficiency.
OBJECTIVE: To measure the plasma alpha-fetoprotein level in children with biliary atresia and to investigate the application value of plasma alpha-fetoprotein level and blood biochemical indicators.
METHODS: Blood samples were harvested from 48 infants with biliary atresia, 20 infants with neonatal hepatitis, and 9 healthy controls. Plasma alpha-fetoprotein level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The correlation between plasma alpha-fetoprotein level and blood biochemical indicators was analyzed to establish a potential diagnosis model. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Xinhua Hospital, China (approval No. XHEC-D-2013-026).
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Plasma alpha-fetoprotein level in infants with biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis was significantly higher than that in the healthy controls (P < 0.001), but no significant difference in plasma alpha-fetoprotein level was observed between infants with biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in plasma alpha-fetoprotein level between infants with different stages of cirrhosis (P > 0.05). Blood biochemical indexes indicated severe liver injury in infants with biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis. There were significant differences in plasma prealbumin (P < 0.05) and γ-glutaminyl transpeptidase levels between infants with biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis (P < 0.01). Plasma alpha-fetoprotein level was negatively correlated with γ-glutaminyl transpeptidase level (r =-0.516, P < 0.01). A potential diagnosis model was established based on plasma alpha-fetoprotein, prealbumin, γ-glutaminyl transpeptidase levels, age and sex of infant patients, with a sensitivity of 81.82%, specificity of 91.67%, and area under the curve of 0.939. Results suggest that plasma alpha-fetoprotein level increased in infants with biliary atresia. Establishing a diagnosis model based on blood biochemical indicators such as plasma alpha-fetoprotein is of certain reference value for clinical diagnosis of biliary atresia. 

Key words: alpha-fetoprotein, biliary atresia, neonatal hepatitis, γ-glutaminyl transpeptidase, prealbumin, blood biochemical indicators, diagnostic model, biomarker

CLC Number: