Serum endothelin-1 and hepatocyte growth factor levels in patients with obstructive jaundice

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endothelin-1, a potent vasoconstrictive peptide, is known to modulate changes in local circulation. Additionally, hepatocyte growth f actor, a potent mitogen for hepatocytes, is increased in various liver dise ases. The present study examined changes in serum endothelin-l and hepatocy te growth factor levels in patients with obstructive jaundice before and af ter percutaneous transhepatic cholangio drainage. METHODOLOGY: Endothelin-1 and hepatocyte growth factor levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using sera from 16 patients vc;with o bstructive jaundice before and after percutaneous transhepatic cholangio dr ainage. RESULTS: Serum endothelin-1 levels decreased rapidly in the good bilirubin decrease group after biliary drainage. Endothelin-1 levels decreased 1 week after drainage but then increased gradually in the worse bilirubin decreas e group. Serum hepatocyte growth factor levels decreased gradually after bi liary drainage, and were higher in the worse bilirubin decrease group than in the good bilirubin decrease group throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that endothelin-1 may be associated with the microcirculatory disturbance in obstructive jaundice and prolonged cho lestasis. Measurement of hepatocyte growth factor levels in patients with o bstructive jaundice before percutaneous transhepatic cholangio drainage may be an early clinical predictor of the subsequent rate of decrease of the s erum bilirubin concentration.