title: Plasma heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor levels in patients after partial hepatectomy as determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
abstract: We recently showed that heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) has hepatotrophic effects. In this study, we developed an ELISA system with high specificity and sensitivity for human plasma HB-EGF. In 14 patients who underwent partial hepatectomy, plasma HB-EGF levels were measured serially after surgery. In patients who underwent gross hepatectomy (lobectomy and segmentectomy), plasma HB-EGF levels increased, reaching maximal levels approximately 5 to 7 days after surgery. In patients who underwent minor hepatectomy (subsegmentectomy), plasma HB-EGF levels did not increase. Maximal plasma HB-EGF levels were significantly higher in patients who had a percent increased volume of the remaining liver (%ILV) above 20% than those who had a %ILV below 20% (32.4 +/- 19.6 pg/ml vs 7.4 +/- 2.7, P < 0.05). The plasma HB-EGF values did not correlate with WBC counts, C-reactive protein, or alanine aminotransferase. Plasma HB-EGF may be a marker for liver regeneration after hepatectomy in humans.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Japan. ayamada@imed2.med
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawata
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiso
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Higashiyama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Umeshita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakon
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monden
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuzawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014054:Tomography
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C587883:HBEGF protein, human; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor