Serum TGF-β1 and VEGF Levels Reflect the Liver Hardness and Function in Children with Biliary Atresia

Abstract

Objective. This study further explored the wind direction correlation analysis between serum levels of TGF-β1 and VEGF and liver function assessment in children with biliary atresia. Methods. A total of 62 children with biliary atresia (BA) who received surgical treatment in our hospital from October 2020 to October 2021 were selected as the research objects (BA group), and 50 normal healthy children who received routine physical examination in our hospital during the same period were selected as blank control group. Outcome measures included postoperative total bilirubin levels and conjugality of enrolled patients. Bilirubin level, unbound bilirubin level, serum transforming growth factor-beta-1 (TGF-β1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), liver function indicators albumin (ALB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and other observation indicators were included. All data in this study were collected and analyzed by SPSS 23.0 software, and $t$ -test was performed. Results. The serum levels of TGF-β1, VEGF, ALT, AST, GGT, and liver hardness were significantly higher in children with jaundice than those without jaundice, and the serum ALB level was significantly lower than that in children without jaundice ( $P<0.05$ ). The levels of TGF-β1 and VEGF in BA group were positively correlated with the levels of ALT, AST, GGT, and liver hardness ( $P<0.05$ ) but negatively correlated with the level of ALB ( $P<0.05$ ). Conclusion. The levels of serum TGF-β1 and VEGF in children with biliary atresia have a certain risk correlation with liver function damage, which will become a research focus on the mechanism of liver fibrosis in the diagnosis and treatment of biliary atresia in children.