Serum hyaluronic acid as an early prognostic marker in biliary atresia

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess whether serum concentrations o f hyaluronic acid (HA), measured at diagnosis is an early biochemical marke r of prognosis in biliary atresia. Methods: Serum HA was measured at diagnosis using a radiometric assay in 84 infants with biliary atresia (BA), and related to outcome by 5 years of ag e, Results: Serum HA was higher in the 29 patients who died or required liver transplant by 5 years of age compared with the 56 who survived to 5 years w ithout transplant (490 +/- 216 mug/L v 262 +/- 163 mug/L; P <.001, 95% conf idence intervals of the difference 145 to 311 <mu>g/L). Conclusion: High serum concentrations of HA at diagnosis may help to identi fy at an early stage those patients with BA who have a poor prognosis and w ill require liver transplant by 5 years of age, J Pediatr Surg 36:443-446. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.