Correlation analysis between serum IL-8 level and native liver survival time in patients with biliary atresia after Kasai procedure

Abstract

Abstract: Objective This study aims to investigate whether cytokines examination can early identify patients with short-term native liver survival time after Kasai procedure (KP), thereby providing a basis for early liver transplantation in this group of patients and improving postoperative outcomes. Methods This study included children who underwent liver transplantation due to biliary atresia (BA) from July 2017 to June 2019, all of whom had previously undergone the KP. Based on whether the native liver survival time after KP exceeded one year, patients were divided into two groups: the early failure group (KP-EF) and the late failure group (KP-LF). We collected demographic data, laboratory results, and pathological information, and assessed the levels of 38 serum cytokines and their correlation with prognosis. Results Compared to the KP-LF group, the KP-EF group had significantly higher levels of IL-8 (121.4±142.7 vs. 43.3±68.3, P<0.05). IL-8 levels were negatively correlated with autologous liver survival time after KP (R=-0.584, P<0.001) and positively correlated with both Child-Pugh and PELD scores (R values of 0.438 and 0.481, respectively, P<0.05). Conclusion In patients with BA, short-term native liver survival time after KP is associated with higher levels of IL-8 and poorer prognosis. IL-8 may provide important insights for clinicians to early identify patients with early liver failure.

Key words: Biliary atresia, Native liver survival time, Interleukin-8, Liver transplantation

LIU Li-wei, WANG Yan, LI Shan-shan, ZHU Zhi-jun, CHEN Yu, ZHAO Xin-yan. Correlation analysis between serum IL-8 level and native liver survival time in patients with biliary atresia after Kasai procedure[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2025, 30(12): 1714-1719.

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