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- Title
Tumour necrosis factor-[alpha] levels in hepatitis B virus-related chronic active hepatitis and liver cirrhosis and its relationship to Knodell and Child-Pugh scores.
- Authors
Kiki I; Yilmaz O; Erdem F; Gundogdu M; Demircan B; Bilici M
- Abstract
Although both chronic active hepatitis-B (CAH-B) and liver cirrhosis (LC) are characterised by various degrees of inflammation and hepatocyte necrosis, in advanced stage cirrhosis, marked fibrosis develops and inflammation and tissue necrosis diminishes. In this study, we aimed to investigate serum tumour necrosis factor-[alpha] (TNF-[alpha]) concentration in patients with CAH-B and LC and its relationship to disease activity. Serum samples were taken from 30 patients with CAH-B and 30 with LC at different stages of the disease. TNF-[alpha] concentrations were measured by the ELISA technique. Results were compared with those of 30 healthy controls. Mean plasma TNF-[alpha] levels were found as 2.47 ± 2.98, 0.8 ± 1.21 and 0.72 ± 1.08 pg/ml in CAH-B, LC and control groups, respectively. TNF-[alpha] levels were significantly higher in CAH-B group than LC and control groups (p <0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Although mean plasma TNF-[alpha] level of cirrhotic patients at Child-A stage was markedly high (3.31 ± 0.15), no significant difference has been found between LC and control groups (p > 0.05). TNF-[alpha] concentrations were positively correlated with hepatitis activity index (Knodell's score) in CAH-B group whereas negatively correlated with Child-Pugh score in LC group (r =0.73, p < 0.01 and r = -0.42, p < 0.05, respectively). Our study showed that TNF-[alpha] level increases in patients with CAH-B correlated with histologic activity index. So it can be used to evaluate disease activity. Additionally, marked reduction of TNF-[alpha] concentration in advanced cirrhosis suggested that TNF-[alpha] production is determined by hepatic damage and inflammation.
- Publication
International Journal of Clinical Practice, 2006, Vol 60, Issue 9, p1075
- ISSN
1368-5031
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1742-1241.2006.00936.x