TORCH serological marker on cholestasis with the occurrence of biliary atresia and its clinical manifestations

Background and objectives. Biliary atresia occurs due to multifactorial etiology, and it was recently suggested that perinatal infection with TORCH, especially Cytomegalovirus (CMV), triggers inflammation of the bile ducts. This study aims to evaluate the TORCH infection on cholestasis with the occurrence of biliary atresia and its clinical manifestations. Materials and methods. A prospective single-center study was performed on 113 cholestatic infants and classified into two groups based on their positivity of immunoglobulin M and G (IgM and IgG). They were tested for CMV, Rubella, and Toxoplasmosis by a Gold Standard Diagnostics ELISA kit in our laboratory. Clinical conditions, laboratory tests (Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and liver histopathology between the two groups were analyzed with p < 0.05, which was considered significant. Results. Out of 113 infants of cholestasis, 94.7% (n = 107) were CMV IgG-positive, followed by Rubella IgG-positive (47.8%, n=54). Rubella and toxoplasma IgM antibodies were least commonly found in cholestasis (8% and 7.1%, respectively). CMV IgG-positive status was noted to be older at the onset of jaundice. Infants with Rubella IgG-positive had less incidence of extrahepatic cholestasis (37.7% vs 62.3%) and liver fibrosis (39% vs 61%) (p<0.05). There was no difference in sex, birth weight, gestational age, AST, ALT, GGT, coagulation hemostasis, and abdominal USG abnormality based on torch serological markers (p>0.05). Conclusion: CMV infection mostly occurs in infants with cholestasis, followed by rubella infection. TORCH infection screening may be necessary in all infants with cholestasis.