Risk factors analysis for significant liver fibrosis of prenatally diagnosed choledochal cysts: a retrospective case-control study

BackgroundThe severity of liver fibrosis and optimal surgical timing in infants with prenatally diagnosed choledochal cysts (CDCs) remain contentious. This study aims to identify risk factors for significant liver fibrosis in prenatally diagnosed CDCs and guide optimal surgical timing.MethodsThis re...

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Main Authors: XiaoJin Zhuang, YuanBin He, DianMing Wu, YiFan Fang, Yu Lin, YanBing Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Pediatrics
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1595238/full
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author XiaoJin Zhuang
YuanBin He
DianMing Wu
YiFan Fang
Yu Lin
YanBing Huang
author_facet XiaoJin Zhuang
YuanBin He
DianMing Wu
YiFan Fang
Yu Lin
YanBing Huang
author_sort XiaoJin Zhuang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundThe severity of liver fibrosis and optimal surgical timing in infants with prenatally diagnosed choledochal cysts (CDCs) remain contentious. This study aims to identify risk factors for significant liver fibrosis in prenatally diagnosed CDCs and guide optimal surgical timing.MethodsThis retrospective case-control study reviewed infants with prenatally diagnosed CDCs between January 2016 and January 2024. Liver fibrosis was staged (S0–S4) using the Batts-Ludwig system. Infants were categorized into mild/no fibrosis (<S2) and significant fibrosis (≥S2) groups based on histopathology. The aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) were validated, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess diagnostic performance.ResultsA total of 50 infants (20 male, 30 female) were enrolled, with a median gestational age at diagnosis of 28 weeks (range: 19–39 weeks) and a median surgical age of 54 days (range: 7–360 days). Liver fibrosis was present in 40 cases (80%), with 34 cases (68%) classified as <S2 and 16 cases (32%) as ≥S2. Univariate analysis showed that infants with significant liver fibrosis had a higher proportion of clinical symptoms and Type IV CDCs, as well as elevated AST, TBil, DBil, GGT, WBC, and cysts width before surgery (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified Type IV CDCs (OR = 11.39, 95% CI: 1.04–124.65) and GGT (OR = 1.003, 95% CI 1.00–1.01) as independent influencing factors (p < 0.05). For diagnosing significant fibrosis (≥S2), GGT demonstrated an area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of 0.86, with an optimal cutoff of 327 U/L (sensitivity: 75%, specificity: 88%). APRI showed an AUROC of 0.76 (95% CI 0.61–0.92, p < 0.01) with an optimal cutoff of 0.23 (sensitivity: 75%, specificity: 80%).ConclusionLiver fibrosis is common in infants with prenatally diagnosed CDCs, primarily presenting as mild. Type IV CDCs and GGT > 327 U/L are significant risk factors, highlighting the need for close monitoring and timely surgical intervention.
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spelling doaj-art-d19a4bce1a1a4ccfa6d935814d44a4002025-08-20T01:50:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602025-05-011310.3389/fped.2025.15952381595238Risk factors analysis for significant liver fibrosis of prenatally diagnosed choledochal cysts: a retrospective case-control studyXiaoJin Zhuang0YuanBin He1DianMing Wu2YiFan Fang3Yu Lin4YanBing Huang5Department of Pathology, Fujian Children's Hospital (Fujian Branch of Shanghai Children's Medical Center), College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of General Surgery, Fujian Children's Hospital (Fujian Branch of Shanghai Children's Medical Center), College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of General Surgery, Fujian Children's Hospital (Fujian Branch of Shanghai Children's Medical Center), College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of General Surgery, Fujian Children's Hospital (Fujian Branch of Shanghai Children's Medical Center), College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of General Surgery, Fujian Children's Hospital (Fujian Branch of Shanghai Children's Medical Center), College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of General Surgery, Fujian Children's Hospital (Fujian Branch of Shanghai Children's Medical Center), College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, ChinaBackgroundThe severity of liver fibrosis and optimal surgical timing in infants with prenatally diagnosed choledochal cysts (CDCs) remain contentious. This study aims to identify risk factors for significant liver fibrosis in prenatally diagnosed CDCs and guide optimal surgical timing.MethodsThis retrospective case-control study reviewed infants with prenatally diagnosed CDCs between January 2016 and January 2024. Liver fibrosis was staged (S0–S4) using the Batts-Ludwig system. Infants were categorized into mild/no fibrosis (<S2) and significant fibrosis (≥S2) groups based on histopathology. The aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) were validated, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess diagnostic performance.ResultsA total of 50 infants (20 male, 30 female) were enrolled, with a median gestational age at diagnosis of 28 weeks (range: 19–39 weeks) and a median surgical age of 54 days (range: 7–360 days). Liver fibrosis was present in 40 cases (80%), with 34 cases (68%) classified as <S2 and 16 cases (32%) as ≥S2. Univariate analysis showed that infants with significant liver fibrosis had a higher proportion of clinical symptoms and Type IV CDCs, as well as elevated AST, TBil, DBil, GGT, WBC, and cysts width before surgery (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified Type IV CDCs (OR = 11.39, 95% CI: 1.04–124.65) and GGT (OR = 1.003, 95% CI 1.00–1.01) as independent influencing factors (p < 0.05). For diagnosing significant fibrosis (≥S2), GGT demonstrated an area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of 0.86, with an optimal cutoff of 327 U/L (sensitivity: 75%, specificity: 88%). APRI showed an AUROC of 0.76 (95% CI 0.61–0.92, p < 0.01) with an optimal cutoff of 0.23 (sensitivity: 75%, specificity: 80%).ConclusionLiver fibrosis is common in infants with prenatally diagnosed CDCs, primarily presenting as mild. Type IV CDCs and GGT > 327 U/L are significant risk factors, highlighting the need for close monitoring and timely surgical intervention.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1595238/fullrisk factorsprenatal diagnosischoledochal cystliver fibrosisgamma-glutamyl transferase
spellingShingle XiaoJin Zhuang
YuanBin He
DianMing Wu
YiFan Fang
Yu Lin
YanBing Huang
Risk factors analysis for significant liver fibrosis of prenatally diagnosed choledochal cysts: a retrospective case-control study
Frontiers in Pediatrics
risk factors
prenatal diagnosis
choledochal cyst
liver fibrosis
gamma-glutamyl transferase
title Risk factors analysis for significant liver fibrosis of prenatally diagnosed choledochal cysts: a retrospective case-control study
title_full Risk factors analysis for significant liver fibrosis of prenatally diagnosed choledochal cysts: a retrospective case-control study
title_fullStr Risk factors analysis for significant liver fibrosis of prenatally diagnosed choledochal cysts: a retrospective case-control study
title_full_unstemmed Risk factors analysis for significant liver fibrosis of prenatally diagnosed choledochal cysts: a retrospective case-control study
title_short Risk factors analysis for significant liver fibrosis of prenatally diagnosed choledochal cysts: a retrospective case-control study
title_sort risk factors analysis for significant liver fibrosis of prenatally diagnosed choledochal cysts a retrospective case control study
topic risk factors
prenatal diagnosis
choledochal cyst
liver fibrosis
gamma-glutamyl transferase
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1595238/full
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