Serum concentration of hepatocyte growth factor predicts perioperative surgical stress in children.

Objective: To find out whether preoperative serum concentrations of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) can indicate the general condition of sick children and can predict their postoperative inflammatory response. Design: Non-randomised study. Setting: University hospital, Japan. Subjects: 41 children who required operation and 41 healthy controls. Interventions: Samples of peripheral venous blood were obtained during the operation. Main outcome measures: Circulating concentrations of HGF, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP); neutrophil counts; and nutritional variables including serum cholinesterase, albumin, and body weight: ideal body weight ratio. Results: The mean serum concentration of HGF in the patients was significantly higher than in the normal controls. Preoperative HGF was related to the preoperative nutritional state, the postoperative IL-6 response, and the development of infective complications. Conclusions: The serum HGF concentration may be a useful variable for evaluating gene...