High levels of serum basic fibroblast growth factor in children with biliary atresia.
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.
Honsawek
Sittisak
S
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Chongsrisawat
Voranush
V
Vejchapipat
Paisarn I
PI
Thawornsuk
Nutchanart
N
Poovorawan
Yong
Y
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
D015415:Biomarkers; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2