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Serum insulinlike growth factor-I in biliary atresia

Shigehiko Yoshida1, Masaki Nio, Yutaka Hayashi

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.

Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|February 22, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Children with biliary atresia (BA) show lower Insulin-like Growth Factor-I (IGF-I) levels, particularly those not needing liver transplants. This may indicate more severe liver disease in BA patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Endocrinology
  • Hepatology

Background:

  • Low Insulin-like Growth Factor-I (IGF-I) levels are noted in children with chronic liver disease, including biliary atresia (BA), awaiting liver transplantation.
  • Previous studies have not investigated IGF-I levels in BA patients managed without liver transplantation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate IGF-I levels in children with biliary atresia (BA) who have undergone surgery and are managed without liver transplantation.
  • To compare IGF-I levels between BA patients and a control group with normal liver function.

Main Methods:

  • IGF-I and growth hormone (GH) were measured in 21 postoperative BA patients and 17 choledochal cyst (CC) patients.
  • IGF-I levels were converted to an "IGF%" index to account for age and gender variations.
  • IGF% was analyzed in relation to disease severity markers like Kasai's type, jaundice status, esophageal varices, choline esterase, and TTT.

Main Results:

  • IGF% was significantly lower in BA patients compared to CC controls.
  • Lower IGF% was observed in Kasai's type III BA and in patients with esophageal varices.
  • A positive correlation was found between choline esterase and IGF%, and a negative correlation between TTT and IGF%.

Conclusions:

  • Low IGF-I levels are characteristic of BA, especially in patients not requiring liver transplantation.
  • Reduced IGF-I may reflect the severity of hepatic fibrosis and reduced functioning liver volume in BA.
  • IGF% serves as a potential indicator of liver pathology severity in BA.
Abstract

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