Assessment of Matrix Metalloprotease – 7 (MMP7) Immunohistochemistry in Biliary Atresia and Other Pediatric Cholestatic Liver Diseases

Abstract

Background and aims: Biliary atresia (BA) is a progressive fibro-obliterative cholangiopathy. The histopathological diagnosis is often challenging and an immunohistochemical marker is often sought as an adjunct. We evaluated MMP7 immunohistochemistry in BA and other non-BA pediatric cholestatic liver diseases. Materials and methods: MMP7 immunohistochemistry was applied in 5 age-matched normal control, 23 cases of BA and 43 cases of non-BA pediatric cholestasis including 16 cases of choledochal cyst (CC), and a multiplication score was obtained by multiplying the intensity and percentage positivity in the cholangiocytes. Results: BA showed a high mean MMP7 multiplication score which was significantly different from the normal control and other non-BA pediatric cholestatic diseases including CC (p value < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of MMP7 immunohistochemistry were 91.3%, 93.02%, 87.5%, and 95.2% respectively. Conclusion: MMP7 immunohistochemistry may be an adjunct to histomorphology in BA.

Keywords:

• Biliary atresia
• choledochal cyst
• pediatric cholestatic diseases
• MMP7
• immunohistochemistry

Ethical standards

This study was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee T/IM-F/18-19/29. The authors received an intramural research grant for the same.

Data availability statement

The dataset is with the corresponding author and is available only on considerable request.

Additional information

Funding

AIIMS Bhubaneswar