Elevated serum heat shock protein 70 and liver stiffness reflect hepatic dysfunction and severity in postoperative biliary atresia.

BACKGROUND: Biliary atresia (BA) is a severe chronic liver disease characterized by progressive obstructive cholangiopathy of biliary tract. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is involved in protecting cells against a wide variety of stress and plays a protective role in tissue damage. The purpose of this study was to investigate serum HSP70 and liver stiffness in BA and determine the association of serum HSP70, liver stiffness, and outcome parameters in post-Kasai BA patients.

METHODS: One hundred post-Kasai BA patients and 40 controls were enrolled. Serum HSP70 levels were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Liver stiffness values were assessed by transient elastography.

RESULTS: BA patients had significantly higher serum HSP70 and liver stiffness values than controls. Serum HSP70 and liver stiffness values were markedly elevated in BA patients with jaundice compared to those without jaundice (P < 0.001). Furthermore, serum HSP70 was more elevated in BA children with portal hypertension than those without portal hypertension (35.1 ± 2.1 vs. 27.9 ± 2.5 ng/mL, P < 0.001). Moreover, serum HSP70 was positively correlated with serum aspartate aminotransferase (r = 0.491, P < 0.001), alanine aminotransferase (r = 0.448, P < 0.001), total bilirubin (r = 0.303, P = 0.002), alkaline phosphatase (r = 0.414, P < 0.001), and liver stiffness values (r = 0.455, P < 0.001). There was a negative correlation between serum HSP70 and serum albumin (r = -0.434, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Serum HSP70 and liver stiffness values were higher in BA patients than controls. The increased serum HSP70 was correlated with hepatic dysfunction in BA. Consequently, serum HSP70 and liver stiffness could serve as non-invasive parameters reflecting the severity in post-Kasai BA.