title: High levels of serum basic fibroblast growth factor in children with biliary atresia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and clinical outcome in biliary atresia (BA) patients after surgical treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five pediatric patients with BA post Kasai operation and 12 healthy children were recruited. The patients were categorized into 2 groups according to their serum levels of total bilirubin (TB < 2, no jaundice vs. TB > or = 2mg/dL, persistent jaundice) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT < 100 vs. ALT > or = 100 U/L). The serum bFGF levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum bFGF level of the BA patients was higher than that of normal controls (14.2 +/- 1.6 vs. 9.0 +/- 2.2 pg/mL, p < 0.03). Serum bFGF levels in the persistent jaundice group were significantly higher than those without jaundice (17.6 +/- 3.1 vs. 11.9 +/- 1.5 pg/mL, p < 0.04). Additionally, patients with serum ALT > or = 100 U/L had higher serum levels of bFGF than those with serum ALT < 100 U/L (19.0 +/- 2.4 vs. 8.9 +/- 1.6 pg/mL, p < 0.0005). In the no jaundice group, serum bFGF levels were significantly elevated in the patients with portal hypertension (PH) compared with those without PH (15.8 +/- 2.2 vs. 8.6 +/- 1.9 pg/mL, p < 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The significant elevation in bFGF levels is associated with the presence of PH and the severity of hepatic damage. bFGF may play a role in the pathogenesis of progressive inflammation and the perpetuation of PH in BA patients after Kasai procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sittisak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honsawek
authors.forename: Voranush
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chongsrisawat
authors.forename: Paisarn I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Vejchapipat
authors.forename: Nutchanart
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thawornsuk
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Poovorawan
mesh_terms: D000713:Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011171:Portoenterostomy, Hepatic; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2