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Eur J Pediatr Surg 2010; 20(4): 237-241
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1249695
Original Article

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Correlation of Circulating Endoglin with Clinical Outcome in Biliary Atresia

K. Preativatanyou1 , S. Honsawek2 , V. Chongsrisawat3 , P. Vejchapipat4 , A. Theamboonlers5 , Y. Poovorawan6
  • 1Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University, Parasitology, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 2Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University, Biochemistry, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 3Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University, Pediatrics, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 4Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University, Surgery, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 5Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University, Center of Excellence in Molecular Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 6Chulalongkorn University, Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Bangkok, Thailand
Further Information

Publication History

received November 06, 2009

accepted after revision February 21, 2010

Publication Date:
09 April 2010 (online)

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Abstract

Background and Aim: Biliary atresia (BA) is a chronic progressive inflammatory disorder of the extrahepatic and intrahepatic biliary system in children. The aim of the present study was to investigate circulating endoglin levels in BA patients compared with healthy controls and to determine the relationship between plasma endoglin levels and outcome parameters of BA patients after Kasai operation.

Methods: Fifty-five postoperative BA patients and 14 healthy controls were recruited. The patients were divided into two groups based on their serum total bilirubin levels (TB<34.2, no jaundice vs. TB≥34.2 μmol/L, persistent jaundice) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT<45, normal ALT vs. ALT≥45 IU/L, high ALT). Circulating endoglin levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Average levels of plasma endoglin were significantly higher in BA patients compared to healthy controls (7.8±0.4 vs. 6.5±0.4 ng/mL; p=0.02). BA patients with persistent jaundice had higher plasma endoglin levels than those without jaundice (9.2±0.8 vs. 6.9±0.3 ng/mL; p=0.006). Furthermore, the concentrations of plasma endoglin in BA patients with high ALT were significantly higher compared to those with normal ALT (8.5±0.5 vs. 6.3±0.5 ng/mL, p=0.003). In addition, BA patients with portal hypertension had more elevated plasma endoglin levels than those without portal hypertension (8.8±0.6 vs. 6.1±0.3 ng/mL, p=0.001). Plasma endoglin was positively correlated with serum ALT (r=0.36, p=0.007) and serum GGT (r=0.44, p=0.001).

Conclusion: High circulating endoglin correlated with a poor outcome for BA. Plasma endoglin can be utilized as a potential biomarker reflecting the severity of ongoing liver injury and biliary obstruction in BA patients after Kasai procedure.

Key words

biliary atresia - clinical outcome - endoglin - jaundice

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Correspondence

Dr. Sittisak Honsawek

Faculty of Medicine

Chulalongkorn University

Biochemistry

Department of Biochemistry

Faculty of Medicine

10330 Bangkok

Thailand

Phone: 662 256 4482

Fax: 662 256 4482

Email: Sittisak.H@chula.ac.th

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