title: Predicting factor of quality of life in long-term jaundice-free survivors after the Kasai operation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine simple predictors for quality of life (QOL) in long-term jaundice-free survivors after the Kasai operation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kasai's original portoenterostomy was performed on 55 patients with biliary atresia. Among them, records were reviewed retrospectively of 35 long-term (at least 5 years) and jaundice-free (clearance in bilirubin level less than 1.0 mg/dL after Kasai operation) survivors. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on QOL, and the differences in clinical and laboratory data were analyzed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ages at Kasai operation, histologic, fibrosis grade of liver biopsy specimen at operation, the first onset and frequency of postoperative cholangitis, and postoperative clearance speed of jaundice after Kasai operation were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level at 1 year was significantly correlated with the serum concentration of hyaluronic acid and an independent predictor for QOL in long-term jaundice-free survivors of the Kasai operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The serum AST level at 1 year was a simple, strong predicting factor of QOL and liver dysfunction in long-term jaundice-free survivors after Kasai operation and may prove useful in planning liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Urata
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Mikihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Konishi
authors.forename: Toshimitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: Chikao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusunoki
mesh_terms: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007565:Jaundice / Q000150:complications; D011171:Portoenterostomy, Hepatic / Q000009:adverse effects; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D001663:Bilirubin