title: Significance of circulating hepatocyte growth factor in protein-losing enteropathy after Fontan operation.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to measure serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and elucidate the relationship between HGF and protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) after Fontan operation (FO). Ten patients with PLE (mean age 15.7 ± 8.7 years) who underwent FO were enrolled. Control group 1 comprised 20 patients without PLE after FO, and control group 2 comprised 10 patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS). Serum HGF, vascular endothelial growth factor, albumin, and random stool alpha-1 antitrypsin concentration were measured. Transthoracic echocardiography was completed. Serum HGF level was significantly greater in the PLE patients (0.61 ± 0.27 ng/ml) after FO than in the two control groups (0.41 ± 0.12 ng/ml [P = 0.024] for the Fontan group without PLE and 0.26 ± 0.12 ng/ml [P = 0.002] for the patients with NS). Serum albumin of patients with PLE (2.82 ± 0.96 g/dl) showed significantly lower levels compared with those of patients without PLE after FO (4.30 ± 0.37 g/dl, P < 0.001) but significantly greater levels compared with patients with NS (1.91 ± 0.33 g/dl, P = 0.019). Patients with greater serum HGF levels showed significant correlation with lower serum albumin level (P = 0.006, r = -0.495). Because serum HGF levels were significantly greater in patients with PLE after FO, HGF may play a role in the development of PLE after FO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Gi Beom
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bo Sang
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Eun Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Chung Il
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.forename: Jung Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018729:Fontan Procedure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor