Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether chemokines such as serum IP-10 levels in patients with biliary atresia (BA) correlate with liver function and histology and assess its value as a medium to long-term prediction of prognosis in postoperative BA patients.
Methods: Thirty postoperative BA patients (mean age, 10.8+/-3.5 years) and eight normal controls (mean age, 10.3+/-3.3 years) were studied. The BA patients were divided into three groups according to liver function. Group I (n = 8) was jaundice free, had normal liver function and no evidence of severe cholangitis or portal hypertension. Group II (n = 12) had moderate liver dysfunction. Group III (n = 10), had severe liver dysfunction. Hepatic histology was assessed using conventional needle biopsy. Serum IP-10 levels were determined using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: Serum levels of IP-10 in group III (458.0+/-240.0 pg/mL) were significantly higher than those in group II (233.6+/-126.9 pg/mL; P < .0001). Levels in group II were also significantly higher than those in group I (144.8+/-23.4 pg/mL; P < .05), but there was no significant difference between group I and controls (107.9+/-34.0 pg/mL). Liver biopsy findings showed a progression of fibrosis and mononuclear cell infiltration from group I to group III. There was intimal hyperplasia and swelling of endothelial cells of branches of the hepatic artery in the portal area in group III.
Conclusion: Because IP-10 levels correlate closely with histological findings in postoperative BA patients, it would appear to play a specific role in hepatocyte death and hepatic artery changes, thus providing important information about progressive fibrosis in BA patients that facilitates treatment decision making and prediction of prognosis.