Smartphonebased Scleral Imaging Can Identify Jaundice In Decompensated Cirrhosis

Smartphone-based jaundice assessment in patients with decompensated cirrhosis is feasible and accurate because it reflects bilirubin levels and correlates with clinical parameters, according to a study published Dec. 27 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology .

Konstantin Kazankov, MD, of the Royal Free Hospital, London, and colleagues investigated the role of smartphone-based imaging in 46 hospitalized patients with acute liver cirrhosis and decompensated jaundice. Images of the sclera were obtained using an Android smartphone to obtain a “scleral color value” (SCV), which was compared with a serum bilirubin measurement obtained on the same day. 29 patients had repeated measurements of SCV and bilirubin over time.

Overall, alcoholic hepatitis caused decompensation in 57 percent of patients. Seven patients died on admission and another 12 after discharge. The researchers found a remarkable linear correlation of SCV with serum bilirubin; Changes in SCV and serum bilirubin at different time points are closely related.

A significant correlation was observed for SCV with the Chronic Liver Failure Consortium Score for Acute Decompensation and the incidence of acute and chronic liver failure. Deceased patients had a higher SCV, although the difference was not significant. The association of SCV with clinical parameters reflects serum bilirubin levels.

"Given the high social penetration of smartphones and ease of imaging, this approach offers a promising tool for follow-up testing of patients with advanced cirrhosis in the community to monitor for new clinical complications," the authors write.

Additional information: Konstantin Kazankov and others. A new smartphone-based scleral imaging tool for the assessment of jaundice in patients with decompensated cirrhosis , Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2022). DOI: 10.1111/jgh.16093

Citation : Smartphone-based scleral imaging can detect jaundice in decompensated cirrhosis (January 11, 2023) Accessed January 12, 2023 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-smartphone-based-scleral-imaging- jaundice -decom. html:

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