Mucin gene expression in bile of patients with and without gallstone disease, collected by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography

Table 1 Demographic and clinical data (n = 29)

Clinical parameter	n(%) or mean ± SD
Age
mean ± SD (yr)	64.5 ± 16.8
Range	24-86
Sex
Men	13 (44.8)
Women	16 (55.2)
Main indication for ERC
Cholestasis/jaundice	16 (55.2)
Choledocholithiasis/dilated CBD	5 (17.2)
Cholangitis	3 (10.3)
SOL of papilla	3 (10.3)
Unresolved pancreatitis	2 (6.9)
Abdominal ultrasound results
Dilated CBD	15 (51.7)
Cholelithiasis	12 (41.4)
Dilated intrahepatic ducts	10 (34.5)
Choledocholithiasis	3 (10.3)
Pancreatitis	1 (3.4)
CBD width (mm)
mean ± SD	8.7 ± 3.7
Range	6-18
Liver function tests, mean ± SD (range)
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)	4.5 ± 6.9 (0.3-32)
Direct bilirubin (mg/dL)	3.0 ± 4.9 (0.1-23)
Alanine aminotransferase (U/L)	206.5 ± 243.3 (12-895)
Aspartate aminotransferase (U/L)	156.4 ± 185.6 (15-812)
Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (U/L)	369.4 ± 370.4 (13-1337)
Alkaline phosphatase (U/L)	291.0 ± 371.4 (56-1893)

ERC: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography; CBD: Common bile duct; SOL: Space-occupying lesion.

Table 2 Results of ERC (n = 29)

Clinical parameter	n(%) or mean ± SD
Diagnosis
CBD width (mm)	9.4 ± 4.0
Range	6-18
Choledocholithiasis	11 (37.9)
Pigmented stones	4 (13.8)
Cholelithiasis	5 (17.2)
Enlarged papilla	7 (24.1)
Dilated CBD	15 (51.7)
CBD stricture	4 (13.8)
Intrahepatic ducts dilation & stricture	3 (10.3)
Torn papilla	3 (10.3)
Bile leakage	1 (3.4)
Mirizzi syndrome	1 (3.4)
Treatment
Sphincterotomy	16 (55.2)
Biopsy of the papilla	5 (17.2)
Stent insertion	2 (6.9)
Cholecystostomy	1 (3.4)

Table 3 Mucin gene expression in bile collected in ERC

Mucin gene	Score mean ± SD (range)	Cases (%)
MUC1	0.62 ± 0.94 (0-3)	34.4
MUC2	0.58 ± 0.90 (0-3)	34.4
MUC3	0.79 ± 0.97 (0-3)	51.7
MUC5AC	1.06 ± 1.22 (0-3)	51.7
MUC5B	1.20 ± 1.26 (0-3)	55.1
MUC6	0.41 ± 0.73 (0-2)	27.5

Table 4 Correlation between the expression of the different mucin genes in bile collected by ERC

Mucin gene	Correlation with mucin gene	Pvalue
MUC1	MUC2	0.0001
	MUC3	0.0001
	MUC5AC	0.0125
	MUC5B	0.049
	MUC6	0.0001
MUC2	MUC3	0.0001
	MUC5AC	0.0080
	MUC5B	0.0001
	MUC6	0.0001
MUC3	MUC5AC	0.0031
	MUC6	0.0003

Table 5 Comparison between patients with (n = 17) and without (n = 12) gallstones

	Gallstones diseas n (%)	No evidence for gallstones n (%)	Pvalue
Age, mean ± SD (years)	61.35 ± 20.13	69.00 ± 9.58	0.234
Sex (men)	8 (47.1)	5 (41.7)	0.927
Main indication for ERC
Jaundice	7 (41.1)	9 (75)	0.153
Dilated CBD	4 (23.5)	1 (8.0)	0.554
Cholangitis	3 (20.0)	0	0.288
SOL of papilla	1 (6.0)	2 (17.0)	0.737
Unresolved pancreatitis	2 (12.0)	0	0.288
Abdominal ultrasound results
Dilated CBD	10 (59.0)	5 (42)	0.599
Cholelithiasis	12 (70.6)	0	< 0.0001
Dilated intrahepatic ducts	6 (40)	4 (30)	0.873
Choledocholithiasis	3 (17.6)	0	0.360
Pancreatitis	1 (5.9)	0	0.861
CBD width (mm), mean ± SD	9.65 ± 4.39	7.50 ± 2.24	0.132
Liver function tests, mean ± SD
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)	5.12 ± 7.83	3.68 ± 5.52	0.589
Direct bilirubin (mg/dL)	3.38 ± 5.53	2.55 ± 4.03	0.662
Alanine aminotransferase (U/L)	245.41 ± 270.76	151.58 ± 196.14	0.315
Aspartate aminotransferase (U/L)	167.29 ± 150.54	141.08 ± 233.11	0.715
Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (U/L)	443.47 ± 388.13	264.50 ± 331.14	0.206
Alkaline phosphatase (U/L)	352.88 ± 449.95	185.08 ± 174.44	0.323
ERC diagnosis
CBD width (mm), mean ± SD	9.59 ± 3.99	9.17 ± 4.37	0.790
Choledocholithiasis	11 (64.7)	0	0.002
Pigmented stones	4 (24.0)	0	0.198
Cholelithiasis	5 (29.0)	0	0.122
Enlarged papilla	3 (16.0)	4 (33.0)	0.533
Dilated CBD	10 (60.0)	5 (40.0)	0.494
CBD stricture	1 (10.0)	3 (30.0)	0.376
Torn papilla	3 (17.6)	0	0.360
Treatment
Sphincterotomy	12 (71.0)	4 (33.0)	0.099
Biopsy of the papilla	1 (10.0)	4 (33.0)	0.288
Mucin gene score, mean ± SD
Mucin concentration (mg/mL)	21.68 ± 7.87	24.54 ± 24.1	0.759
Protein concentration (mg/mL)	7.87 ± 4.53	8.61 ± 5.48	0.694
MUC1	0.59 ± 0.87	0.66 ± 1.07	0.848
MUC2	0.53 ± 0.80	0.66 ± 1.07	0.711
MUC3	0.88 ± 0.93	0.66 ± 1.07	0.560
MUC5AC	0.47 ± 0.80	0.33 ± 0.65	0.621
MUC5B	1.23 ± 1.25	0.83 ± 1.19	0.394
MUC6	1.29 ± 1.26	1.08 ± 1.31	0.667