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Published on: September 13, 2016
Changes in liver volume from birth to adulthood: a meta-analysis
Trevor N Johnson1, Geoffrey T Tucker, M Stuart Tanner
1Simcyp Limited, Blades Enterprise Centre, John Street, Sheffield S2 4SU, UK. t.johnson@simcyp.com
Summary
A new general equation, LV = 0.722 * BSA(1.176), accurately estimates liver volume (LV) in children and young adults. This model integrates diverse data, outperforming existing equations for predicting liver size across various populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Medical Imaging
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Existing equations for estimating liver volume (LV) are population-specific and method-dependent.
- A comprehensive approach is needed to develop a universal equation for pediatric liver volume estimation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To integrate all published pediatric data to define a general equation for estimating liver volume (LV) from birth onward.
- To compare the accuracy of various regression models and existing literature equations for predicting pediatric LV.
Main Methods:
- Collated data from 5,036 subjects (birth to 18 years).
- Developed simple and multiple regression equations, including BSA, weight, height, age, gender, race, methodology, and publication year as covariates.
- Selected the most parsimonious equation (LV = 0.722 * BSA^1.176) based on AIC, precision, bias, and visual inspection.
Main Results:
- The selected general equation is LV = 0.722 * BSA(1.176).
- Japanese individuals have up to 19% larger livers than Caucasians for a given body weight.
- Autopsy measurements yielded higher estimates (up to 8%) compared to radiographic and ultrasonic methods.
Conclusions:
- A more general model for predicting liver volume in pediatric populations and young adults has been developed.
- The developed equation demonstrates superior precision and accuracy compared to existing adult models.
- Factors like gender and publication year did not significantly influence LV estimation.
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