Abstract: Objective To analyze the assessment of the prognostic situation of children with cytomegalovirus (CMV) hepatitis using serum interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) combined with high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1). Methods Clinical data of 126 children with CMV hepatitis admitted to Huangshi Central Hospital from June 2021 to June 2023 were retrospectively collected and set as the observation group. Additionally, 73 healthy children undergoing routine physical examinations during the same period were selected as the control group. The two groups were compared for levels of IFN-γ, HMGB1, liver function and immune function. All children in the observation group received ganciclovir treatment for two weeks. Based on post-treatment CMV DNA levels, those with ≤ 500 copies/mL were categorized as the good prognosis group (n=91), while the rest were considered to as the poor prognosis group (n=35). The post-treatment indicators of both groups were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the factors influencing the prognosis of the children, and the diagnostic efficacy of IFN-γ and HMGB1 in assessing the prognostic situation was analyzed using ROC curves. Results Before treatment, the levels of IFN-γ, HMGB1, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total bilirubin (TBil) in the observation group were 14.3±2.7 mmol/L, 46.2±5.3 μg/L, 86.5±8.9 U/L, 82.1±8.3 U/L, and 85.4±9.9 U/L, respectively, all of which were higher than those in the control group, and their immune indicators were lower. After treatment, the levels of IFN-γ, HMGB1, AST, ALT, and TBil in the group with a good prognosis were 5.3±1.7 mmol/L, 23.7±3.5 μg/L, 35.9±4.2 U/L, 36.4±4.3 U/L, and 43.8±5.7 U/L, respectively, all lower than those in the group with a poor prognosis, and their immune indicators were higher, with statistical differences noted (P＜0.05). Logistic analysis showed that IFN-γ, HMGB1, liver function indicators, and immune function indicators are all important factors affecting the prognosis of the children. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve indicated that the combination of IFN-γ and HMGB1 had an accuracy of 0.961 (95% CI: 0.931, 0.991) in assessing the prognostic situation. Conclusion The combination of serum IFN-γ and HMGB1 have high application value in assessing the prognosis of children with cytomegalovirus hepatitis.

Key words: Interferon-gamma, High Mobility Group Box 1, Cytomegalovirus Hepatitis, Diagnostic Efficacy