Implementation of a neonatal hepatitis B immunization program in rural Karenni State, Myanmar: A mixed-methods study

Background Hepatitis B infection is a major health concern in Myanmar. Hepatitis B birth dose vaccination to prevent mother-to-child transmission is not universal, especially in births outside of health care facilities. Little is documented about delivery of immunization programs in rural Myanmar or in conflict-affected regions. To address this gap, this study describes the implementation of a novel community delivered neonatal hepatitis B immunization program in rural Karenni State, Myanmar. Methods A mixed-methods study assessed the effectiveness and feasibility of hepatitis B birth dose immunization program. 1000 pregnant women were screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection using point of care testing. Neonates of HBV positive mothers were immunized with a three dose HBV vaccine schedule at birth, 1, and 6 months of age. HBV testing was completed for children at 9 months to assess for infection. Descriptive statistics were collected including demographic data of mothers, neonatal vaccination schedule completion, and child HBV positivity at 9 months. Qualitative data examining barriers to implementation were collected through semi-structured interviews, participant-observation, and analysis of program documents. Themes were codified and mapped onto the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Results 46 pregnant women tested HBV positive leading to 40 live births. 39 women-child dyads were followed until the 9-month age mark. With the exception of two neonates who received their birth dose past 24 hours, all children received their vaccines on time. None of the 39 children tested positive for HBV at nine months. Themes regarding barriers included adaptability of the program to the rural setting, friction with other stakeholders and not meeting all needs of the community. Identified strengths included good communication and leadership within the implementing ethnic health organization. Conclusion A community delivered neonatal HBV vaccination program by ethnic health organizations is feasible and effective in rural Myanmar.

Neonatal hepatitis in a term newborn: sequelae to in utero COVID-19 infection

Neonatal hepatitis is a common disease entity seen among newborns. It is known as inflammation of liver parenchyma in newborns, specifically in first month of life. Most common cause of neonatal hepatitis is viral infection which infects liver in utero or in postnatal period. Newborns carrying neonatal hepatitis mostly present with jaundice, failure to gain weight and hepatosplenomegaly. Neonatal hepatitis due to in utero COVID infection is diagnosed by conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, raised SGOT and SGPT levels and raised COVID antibody levels. Treatment includes addition of fat-soluble vitamins, phenobarbitone and supportive care. Here author is reporting a rare case of 11 days old newborn with neonatal hepatitis, who presented with severe jaundice (TSB/DB- 44/22) hepatosplenomegaly and hypoxemia with mild respiratory distress. Maternal history revealed high grade fever with low cell count during 5th month of gestation, though COVID RAT was negative and RT-PCR was not done. Baby was managed in NICU with IV antibiotics, IV fluids, oxygen by prongs, oral fat-soluble vitamin supplementation, adequate calorie intake and phenobarbitone. Baby responded very well to the treatment and discharged in healthy condition after 7 days. Paucity of data documenting in utero COVID-19 infection as cause of neonatal hepatitis led us to report this rare case.

Dia gnostic accuracy of the R-Factor in diff erentiating between neonatal hepatitis and biliary atresia in infants

Introduction: Liver function test is a part of safe and aff ordable routine blood biochemical tests and provides useful information for the diagnosis and management of liver dysfunction. In this study we evaluated the value of the R factor in distinguishing between intrahepatic and extrahepatic causes of infant cholestasis. Methods: Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of the R factor in each group in comparison with liver biopsy as the gold standard of diagnosis. The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software and P < 0.05 indicated a significant difference. Results: The study included 37 neonatal hepatitis patients (group A) and 25 biliary atresia patients (group B). The R factor was calculated using the (ALT patient/ULN)/(ALP patient/ULN) formula; ROC analysis revealed that if the R factor was ≤ 0.09 the patient diagnosis would be biliary atresia with high sensitivity (92%) (p-value = 0.001). The corresponding specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), diagnostic accuracy and area under the ROC curve (AUC) were 75.7%, 72%, 93%, 82% and 0.87, respectively. Conclusion: The study revealed that the R factor is a good diagnostic marker for differentiating between the most common intrahepatic and extrahepatic causes of infant cholestasis and has good diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV, in comparison with liver biopsy as the gold standard of diagnosis.

Role of hepatobiliary scintigraphy with different semi-quantitative parameters along with histopathological scoring in differentiating biliary atresia from neonatal hepatitis

Background Biliary atresia (BA) and neonatal hepatitis (NH) are the two major causes of neonatal cholestasis (NC). However, both conditions had entirely different therapeutic schedule and prognosis. Considering BA as a surgical emergency, it is pretty important to accurately differentiate the two entities. The aim of the study is to evaluate the diagnostic utility of hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS) using a semi-quantitative technique as well as 15-point histopathological scoring system in differentiating BA from NH. Results The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of HBS in the diagnosis of BA was 90.5%, 80%, and 83.6%, respectively. The median values of kidney-liver ratio (KLR), intestinal-liver ratio (ILR), and background-liver ratio (BLR) were significantly higher in patients with BA, while that of the liver-kidney ratio (LKR) was significantly lower in cases with BA. Moreover, KLR had the largest area under curve (AUC); advocates it to be the best of the semi-quantitative parameters that can predicts BA. Histopathological scoring using a cutoff point ≥ 7 was helpful in discriminating BA from NH with 85.7% sensitivity, 95% specificity and 91.8% accuracy. Conclusions HBS is a non-invasive diagnostic tool frequently used in diagnosis of BA, yet it has a relatively low specificity. To overcome this challenge, we kindly recommend the use of semi-quantitative parameters that could possibly improve the accuracy of HBS for diagnosing BA. Additionally, the use of 15-point scoring for liver biopsy was useful.

Differentiating Biliary Atresia From Idiopathic Neonatal Hepatitis: A Novel Keratin 7 Based Mathematical Approach on Liver Biopsies

Background and Aims Differentiating biliary atresia (BA) from idiopathic neonatal hepatitis (INH) is vital in routine pediatric practice. However, on liver biopsy, few cases offer a diagnostic challenge to discriminate these entities with certainty. Bile ductular reaction (DR), intermediate hepatobiliary cells (IHBC) and extra-portal ductules (EPD) indicate progenitor cell activation, as a response to various hepatic insults. The present study aims to quantify DR, IHBC and EPD by Keratin 7 (CK7) immunohistochemistry (IHC) in BA and INH and to devise a mathematical approach to better differentiate the two, especially in histologically equivocal cases. Methods A total of 98 cases were categorized on biopsy as BA, INH or equivocal histology, favoring BA or INH. CK7 DR mean, IHBC mean and EPD mean values were compared between BA and INH. A formula was derived to help distinguish these two entities, the cut-off value, sensitivity and specificity of which were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. This formula was applied and validated on histologically equivocal cases. Results Univariate logistic regression revealed significant difference between BA and INH with respect to CK7 DR and CK7 EPD mean (p < 0.001 in both); however, CK7 IHBC mean was not significant (p = 0.08). On multivariate logistic regression, only CK7 DR had significant impact on diagnosis (p < 0.001). A formula: (CK7 DR) 2 + (CK7 EPD)/(CK7 IHBC) was derived to help distinguish BA from INH. Cut off value of 10.5 and above, determined by ROC curve, favored a diagnosis of BA (sensitivity= 93.4%, specificity= 94.6%). Histologically equivocal and discrepant cases could be correctly categorized using this formula. Conclusions Formula using CK7 IHC parameters may aid pathologists better distinguish BA from INH, especially in histologically equivocal cases.