There is no association between K469E ICAM-1 gene polymorphism and biliary atresia

To determine whether there was an association between inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) gene polymorphism and biliary atresia (BA), and to investigate the relationship between serum soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) and clinical outcome in BA patients after surgical treatment.

Eighty-three BA patients and 115 normal controls were genotyped. K469E ICAM-1 polymorphism was analyzed using PCR assay. Serum sICAM-1 was determined using ELISA method from 72 BA patients. In order to evaluate the association between these variables and their clinical outcome, the patients were categorized into two groups: patients without jaundice and those with persistent jaundice.

There were no significant differences between BA patients and controls in terms of gender, K469E ICAM-1 genotypes, and alleles. The proportion of patients having serum sICAM-1 >=3 500 ng/mL in persistent jaundice group was significantly higher than that in the other group. In addition, there was no association between K469E ICAM-1 polymorphism and the status of jaundice in BA patients after Kasai operation.

ICAM-1 possibly plays an important and active role in the disease progression. However, the process is not associated with genetic variation of K469E ICAM-1 polymorphism.