Correlations of Plasma Biotinidase Levels with Hepatic Synthetic Functions in Children with Chronic Liver Diseases

Aims: Certain liver diseases can cause decreased synthesis of liver proteins or enzymes, including biotinidase, thereby reducing biotinidase activity in serum. The present study aimed to assess plasma biotinidase level in pediatric patients with compensated and decompensated chronic liver disease and to investigate the correlations between plasma biotinidase levels and the plasma albumin and prothrombin concentrations so that can identify the possible utility of plasma biotinidase levels as a predictor for hepatic synthetic function impairment .

Methodology: A total of 29 pediatric patients (20 male and 9 female) with chronic liver disease were included in the study (16 compensated and 13 decompensated). Plasma albumin, prothrombin time and concentration were measured in the included patients. Assay of plasma biotinidase level was done by ELISA, using commercially available assay kit, for both patients and control group.

Results: mean±SD of plasma biotinidase activities were found 4.4±1.2, 8.2±3, 8.7±0.7 IU\L (decompensated pediatric patients, compensated pediatric patients and control group respectively). Plasma biotinidase levels were statistically significant lower in pediatric patients with decompensated liver disease versus pediatric patients with compensated liver disease and control group (p˂0.001). There was statistically significant negative correlation between plasma biotinidase levels versus prothrombin time "PT" and international normalization ratio "INR" (p˂0.05) and statistically significant positive correlation between plasma biotinidase levels versus prothrombin concentration "PC" and albumin (p˂0.001).

Conclusion: The findings of this study suggested that plasma biotinidase level could be used as a predictor for hepatic synthetic function impairment.