Population-based screening methods in biliary atresia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
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Read the article on pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗Article · Apr 2023 · 1 min read
In brief
In brief
This systematic review compares six population-based screening methods for biliary atresia, finding that conjugated bilirubin measurements and stool color charts offer the best balance of sensitivity and early detection. Both methods reduce age at Kasai procedure and improve survival outcomes, though cost-effectiveness varies significantly between approaches.
Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate tested methods of population-based biliary atresia (BA) screening.
Design: We searched 11 databases between 1 January 1975 and 12 September 2022. Data extraction was independently done by two investigators.
Main outcome measures: Our primary outcomes were: sensitivity and specificity of screening method in BA detection, age at Kasai, BA associated morbidity and mortality, cost-effectiveness of screening.
Results: Six methods of BA screening were evaluated: stool colour charts (SCCs), conjugated bilirubin measurements, stool colour saturations (SCSs), measurements of urinary sulfated bile acids (USBAs), assessments of blood spot bile acids and blood carnitine measurements.In a meta-analysis, USBA was the most sensitive and specific, with a pooled sensitivity and specificity of 100.0% (95% CI 2.5% to 100.0%) and 99.5% (95% CI 98.9% to 99.8%) (based on one study). This was followed by conjugated bilirubin measurements: 100.0% (95% CI 0.0% to 100.0%) and 99.3% (95% CI 91.9% to 99.9%), SCS: 100.0% (95% CI 0.00% to 100.0%) and 92.4% (95% CI 83.4% to 96.7%), and SCC: 87.9% (95% CI 80.4% to 92.8%) and 99.9% (95% CI 99.9% to 99.9%).SCC reduced the age of Kasai to ~60 days, compared with 36 days for conjugated bilirubin. Both SCC and conjugated bilirubin improved overall and transplant-free survival. The use of SCC was considerably more cost-effective than conjugated bilirubin measurements.
Conclusion: Conjugated bilirubin measurements and SCC are the most researched and demonstrate improved sensitivity and specificity in detecting BA. However, their use is expensive. Further research into conjugated bilirubin measurements, as well as alternative methods of population-based BA screening, is required.
DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2022-324946