Serum matrix metalloproteinase-7 in biliary atresia: A Japanese multicenter study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Biliary atresia (BA) is among the commonest indications for liver transplantation (LT) in children. We examined whether serum matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) is useful for diagnosis of BA in Japanese infants, and whether serum MMP-7 concentrations before and after Kasai portoenterostomy (KP) predicted LT within a year.

METHODS:

Subjects under 6 months old at eight pediatric centers in Japan were enrolled retrospectively, including patients with cholestasis and normal controls (NC) without liver disease. Patients with cholestasis were divided into groups representing BA versus cholestasis from other causes (non-BA). Serum samples were collected from patients with BA at diagnosis and 1 and 4 weeks after KP, as well as from non-BA and NC.

RESULTS:

Serum MMP-7 concentrations were significantly higher in BA at diagnosis (median, 89.1 ng/ml) than in non-BA (11.0; p < 0.001) or NC (10.3; p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of MMP-7 for BA versus non-BA yielded an area under the ROC curve of 0.99 (95% confidence interval, 0.96-1.00). An optimal cut-off value of 18.6 ng/ml for serum MMP-7 in diagnosing BA demonstrated sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 90%, respectively. Serum MMP-7 before and 1 week and 4 weeks after KP did not differ significantly between BA requiring only KP and BA requiring LT after KP.

CONCLUSION:

Serum MMP-7 is a useful marker for diagnosis of BA in Japanese infants, but it could not predict LT within a year.

• Authors: Hirotaka Sakaguchi, Ken-Ichiro Konishi, Ryosuke Yasuda, Hideyuki Sasaki, Koichiro Yoshimaru, Takahisa Tainaka, Suguru Fukahori, Yukihiro Sanada, Itaru Iwama, Hiromichi Shoji, Masahiro Kinoshita, Toshiharu Matsuura, Jun Fujishiro, Hiroo Uchida, Masaki Nio, Yushiro Yamashita, Tatsuki Mizuochi
• Journal: Hepatology research : the official journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology (Hepatol Res) Vol. 52 Issue 5 Pg. 479-487 (May 2022) ISSN: 1386-6346 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 35106887 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2022 Japan Society of Hepatology.