Hepatocyte growth factor levels in livers and serum at Kasai-portoenterostomy are not predictive of clinical outcome in infants with biliary atresia

Abstract

Biliary atresia (BA) is characterized by progressive destruction of the biliary system leading to liver fibrosis and deterioration of liver function. Serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to be increased in cirrhotic diseases including BA. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of HGF levels in sera and liver tissue for the further disease course. A total of 49 serum and liver samples from infants with BA were acquired during Kasai-portoenterostomy (KPE) and analyzed by multiplex immunoassay including HGF, as marker of liver regeneration, and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) as a marker of inflammation. Both mediators showed no correlation with the outcome defined as favorable (survival with native liver (SNL)) or, in contrast, rapid deterioration of liver function requiring transplantation. Our data suggest that the degree of liver regeneration indicated by high levels of HGF within the liver is a dismissible factor in the post-KPE disease course.

Keywords:

• Biliary atresia
• liver growth factors
• Kasai-procedure
• liver transplantation
• long-term outcome
• prognosis

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the excellent technical assistance by Jana Keil und Kerstin Daemen.

Disclosure statement

No authors have any conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Appenrodt-Stiftung. German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and Hochschulinterne Leistungsförderung (HiLF).