Galectin 3 Binding Protein as a biomarker of choledochal cyst in children: A pilot study

Abstract

A choledochal cyst (CDC) is a rare congenital, single, or multiple cystic dilatations of the biliary tract encountered most commonly in infants and children. A sensitive and specific serological marker, if available, may add to its early recognition thereby avoiding the risk of complications frequently seen in these patients. We analyzed serum galectin-3-binding protein (Gal-3BP) levels in 21 children with CDC and 14 age-matched controls by the ELISA method. Serum Gal-3-BP levels were significantly raised in the patient group (36.6 ±25.2 ng/ml versus 7.0 ±4.3 ng/ml in controls; p <0.0001) and 95.2% of patients had Gal-3BP levels higher than the mean value in controls. Almost 67% of patients showed values ≥3 times of mean Gal-3BP level in controls (p <0.0001). Equal to 5 times or greater levels were seen in 43% of the patients (p = 0.0051). The study, therefore, suggests further evaluation of Gal-3BP as a potential biomarker for CDC and other biliary disorders.