title: Kidney volume and plasma hepatocyte growth factor-transforming growth factor beta1 ratio among children with biliary atresia before and after liver transplantation: the reversibility of nephromegaly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We previously showed a positive correlation between nephromegaly and plasma hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) ratio in children with biliary atresia. The purpose of this study is to examine the possible reversibility of nephromegaly in patients with biliary atresia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated kidney volume in 13 patients with biliary atresia before and after liver transplantation, 6 patients with hepatoblastoma, and 26 healthy children. Plasma HGF and TGF-beta1 levels were determined for all children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We noted significant nephromegaly in children with biliary atresia before liver transplantation compared with healthy children and children after liver transplantation (P < 0.001 and P = 0.006 for intercepts, P = 0.064 and P = 0.753 for slopes by analysis of covariance, respectively). The highest plasma HGF levels and HGF/TGF-beta1 ratios and the lowest TGF-beta1 concentrations were found in children with biliary atresia before liver transplantation (P < 0.001). No statistically significant nephromegaly was observed in children with biliary atresia after liver transplantation or those with hepatoblastoma despite the presence of a mildly increased plasma HGF level and HGF/TGF-beta1 ratio. Plasma HGF/TGF-beta1 ratio correlated positively with degree of nephromegaly in all patients (r = 0.717; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that liver transplantation reverses the nephromegaly present in children with biliary atresia and that plasma HGF/TGF-beta1 ratio may be associated with the development of nephromegaly in patients with biliary atresia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Children's Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yong-Kwei
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Tsau
authors.forename: I-Jung
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D018197:Hepatoblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor