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Journal Article Ppublish

PubMed: 41934119 DOI: 10.1111/liv.70596

Echocardiography, Bile Acids and Spleen Stiffness to Rule Out High-Risk Varices in Children With Biliary Atresia.

Liver Int 46(5):e70596

Authors: Virginie Lambert, Jean-Paul Teglas, Oanez Ackermann, Stéphanie Franchi-Abella, Alice Tiret, Raphaël Veil, Olivier Bernard, Emmanuel Gonzales, Emmanuel Jacquemin, Mathieu Duché

Affiliations

  • Cardiologie Congénitale Montsouris, Institut Médico-Chirurgical Montsouris, Paris, France.
  • Radiologie Diagnostique et Interventionnelle pédiatrique, Hôpital Bicêtre, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris and Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
  • Centre de Recherche en Épidémiologie et Santé Des Populations, Inserm U1018 and Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
  • Hépatologie et Transplantation hépatique pédiatriques, Centre de référence de L'atrésie Des Voies Biliaires et Des Cholestases génétiques, FSMR FILFOIE, ERN RARE LIVER, Hôpital Bicêtre, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
  • INSERM U1193, Hepatinov, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France.
  • Service de Santé Publique et d'Epidémiologie, Hôpital Bicêtre, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris and Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Detecting gastroesophageal varices with a high risk of bleeding (HRV) in children with biliary atresia requires endoscopies from an early age to apply primary prophylaxis of bleeding. However, repeated endoscopies are invasive and costly. This study was performed to define tools to rule out HRV, with the objective of reducing the number of endoscopies.

METHODS

Children with biliary atresia and portal hypertension were prospectively enrolled. Laboratory tests, elastography, echocardiography, and endoscopy were performed. Variables were subjected to principal component analysis, followed by multivariate logistic regression analyses for HRV prediction. The effectiveness of composite models and criteria based on liver and spleen stiffness measurements was evaluated using the missed HRV ratio and the spared endoscopy rate.

RESULTS

Among the 100 children enrolled, a higher indexed right atrium area, higher left ventricle end-diastolic diameter, younger age, higher serum bile acid concentration, and higher spleen stiffness were independently associated with HRV. In children under 3 years old, a model combining indexed right atrium area from echocardiography and serum bile acid concentration achieved a 37% spared endoscopy rate with no missed HRV. For children over 3 years old, spleen stiffness of ≤ 30 kPa was associated with a 41% spared endoscopy rate and no missed HRV.

CONCLUSION

Combining an echocardiography-based model for children under 3 years old with spleen stiffness criteria for older children may reduce the need for screening endoscopies by 40% in children with biliary atresia and portal hypertension.

MeSH

Hypertension, Bile, Hemorrhage, Serum, Elasticity Imaging Techniques, Liver, Endoscopy, Hypertension, Portal, Echocardiography, Biliary Atresia, Spleen, Varicose Veins, Child