Oxidative stress profile in the post-operative patients with biliary atresia

Many post-operative patients with biliary atresia (BA) suffer from liver dysfunction, such as chronic inflammation even without jaundice after a Kasai's hepatic portoenterostomy. The presence and degree of oxidative stress were evaluated in the post-operative patients with BA. Twelve outpatients who underwent a Kasai's hepatic portoenterostomy were evaluated. The active oxygen products, the rate of bioantioxidant, the markers of oxidative stress, and the degree of hepatic oxidative stress were examined by immunohistochemical staining of biopsied specimens. All of the oxidative stress markers in the post-operative patients with BA increased in comparison to those in the controls. Moreover, 8-OHdG immunohistochemical staining was positive in 84 +/- A 4.8% in hepatic cells in the portal area in the post-operative patients with BA. The post-operative patients with BA were under increased oxidative stress, even if their liver dysfunction was mild without jaundice. Antioxidant therapy might be necessary to decrease of oxidative stress in the post-operative patients with BA.