ObjectiveEarly diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA) is crucial for improving patient prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of serum matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) in diagnosing BA. MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive search of English-language databases (PubMed, Elsevier, Web of Science) and Chinese-language databases (CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP) for studies published from the inception of these databases up to December 30, 2024. Eligible studies included diagnostic data based on serum MMP-7 and GGT levels from children with BA and non-BA cholestasis. Results Through a systematic review and meta-analysis, a total of 24 publications encompassing 33 studies were included, covering a combined cohort of 6 879 children with cholestasis. The results of the binary diagnostic model analysis revealed that the pooled sensitivity and specificity of serum matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) were 93% (95%CI 92 to 94) and 87% (95%CI 85 to 88), respectively. The positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) for MMP-7 were 8.63 (95%CI 5.88 to 12.66), 0.09 (95%CI 0.06 to 0.13), and 115.31 (95%CI 69.08 to 192.48), respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for MMP-7 was 0.9659, indicating excellent diagnostic performance. In comparison, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) demonstrated a pooled sensitivity of 76% (95%CI 73 to 78) and specificity of 80% (95%CI 78 to 82). The corresponding PLR, NLR, and DOR for GGT were 3.50 (95%CI 2.77 to 4.43), 0.30 (95%CI 0.25 to 0.36), and 12.69 (95%CI 9.18 to 17.55), respectively. The AUC for GGT was calculated to be 0.849 4, reflecting moderate diagnostic accuracy. ConclusionSerum MMP-7 demonstrates higher diagnostic accuracy compared to GGT, which may significantly enhance the diagnostic efficiency for biliary atresia. However, due to its heterogeneity, further multicenter, large-sample, prospective studies that adhere strictly to experimental protocols are necessary to validate its diagnostic accuracy.