HGF and appendicitis: The levels of inflammatory markers procalcitonin, ferritin, interleukin-10 (IL-10), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), IL-8 and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were higher whereas the concentrations of signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM)-associated protein (SAP) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) were reduced in the children with severe appendicitis compared to children with moderate and mild appendicitis (Figure 4).