Stool Card in Biliary Atresia

Biliary atresia (BA) is a rare but life-threatening liver disorder that affects infants, characterized by the progressive inflammation and fibrosis of the bile ducts, leading to biliary obstruction [1].

Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial - ideally before 60 days of age - as BA is a leading cause of liver transplantation in children if not diagnosed and treated promptly [2]. The traditional method of diagnosis involves the identification of clinical signs like jaundice and abnormal liver function tests, but this approach can delay the diagnosis, leading to irreversible liver damage. As a result, early detection is essential to improve outcomes and prevent the need for a liver transplant [3].

The stool color card (SCC) is a diagnostic tool that has gained significant attention in recent years as a non-invasive method for the early detection of biliary atresia [4]. Newborns with biliary atresia typically exhibit pale stools due to a lack of bile secretion [5].

The stool color card provides a simple way for parents or healthcare professionals to monitor changes in the stool color in newborns, providing an early indicator of potential biliary atresia [6,7]. The card features a range of colors that correspond to the different stages of stool color, allowing for easy comparison and identification of abnormal stool [8-11].

Despite the availability of SCCs, their effectiveness in routine screening programs remains understudied. There is a need to evaluate the utility of SCCs in improving early diagnosis rates of BA.

Inclusion criteria

• Neonates and infants aged 1-90 days old.
• Neonates and infants with direct (conjugated) hyperbilirubinemia (Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia is generally defined as a conjugated or direct bilirubin level greater than 1 mg/dL when the total bilirubin is less than 5 mg/dL or more than 20% of the total bilirubin if the total bilirubin is greater than 5 mg/dL) [12]
• No contraindication for liver biopsy as considered the gold standard for diagnosis of biliary atresia e.g. coagulopathy.

Exclusion criteria

1 - Infants diagnosed with biliary atresia or other cholestatic liver diseases prior to enrollment.

2-Infants aged more than 90 days 3-Neonates and infants with indirect hyperbilirubinemia. 4-Those with contraindication to do liver biopsy