Semiquantitative Assay of Serum Lipoprotein-X in Differential Diagnosis of Neonatal Hepatitis and Congenital Biliary Atresia

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Abstract
Sera from 83 infants with biliary atresia or neonatal hepatitis were examined for the presence of lipoprotein-X (Lp-X). All the infants examined with biliary atresia were positive for Lp-X. Forty-three percent of infants with neonatal hepatitis were positive for Lp-X. Serum Lp-X was higher in the group of biliary atresia than in the group of neonatal hepatitis. Of 37 infants with biliary atresia 18 were positive for Lp-X in an 8-fold or greater dilution of serum. Only 1 of 46 infants with neonatal hepatitis was Lp-X positive in the same dilution. The semiquantitative values of Lp-X were well correlated with quantitative levels of Lp-X, and the sera positive for Lp-X in 8-fold or greater dilutions had Lp-X levels of higher than 300 mg/100 ml. The semiquantitative assay of serum Lp-X may be of value in helping to differentiate biliary atresia from neonatal hepatitis, especially in the early stage of the disease.