A Minimalist and Robust Diagnostic Model for Neonatal Biliary Atresia: Harnessing MMP-7 and Machine Learning in a Time-Critical Setting

Early diagnosis is the most critical determinant of native liver survival in infants with biliary atresia (BA). Accurate differentiation of BA from other neonatal cholestatic disorders remains particularly challenging within the first 28 days of life, a period during which clinical and biochemical features are often nonspecific. This study aimed to develop and validate a minimalist, highly interpretable diagnostic model that integrates serum matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) with routinely available clinical parameters to facilitate early BA diagnosis in neonates.