Increased serum sclerostin in postoperative biliary atresia

Abstract

Background: We determined the relationship between serum sclerostin and disease severity of biliary atresia (BA).

Methods: Seventy postoperative BA patients and 35 controls were recruited. Serum sclerostin, C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), and osteocalcin were analyzed using ELISA. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Results: BA patients had significantly higher serum sclerostin than controls. Serum sclerostin was markedly elevated in jaundice patients compared with jaundice-free patients. Serum osteocalcin was not different, whereas serum CTX was greater in BA patients than controls. BMD of jaundice patients was significantly lower than jaundice-free patients. Additionally, serum sclerostin was correlated with biochemical parameters and BMD in BA.

Conclusion: Increased sclerostin levels were associated with liver dysfunction and the severity of BA, suggesting that sclerostin may reflect the deterioration of hepatic function and the outcome in postoperative BA.

Keywords: Biliary atresia; Bone mineral density; CTX; Jaundice; Osteocalcin; Sclerostin.