association between levels of serum endoglin, serum globulin, IgG, IgA, IgM and leptin with the histological extent of fibrosis in patients with chronic HBV and HCV infection.

This study was performed to determine whether there are association between levels of serum endoglin, serum globulins and leptin with the histological extent of fibrosis in patients with chronic HBV and HCV infection.This study included 39 chronic HBV, 31 HCV infection who underwent a diagnostic percutaneous liver biopsy at the Department of Infection Diseases and Clinic Microbiology and Department of Gastroentherology between January 2007- June 2008. Thirty five healthy subjects used as controls for biochemical evaluations.Serum globulin and immunoglobulin levels; IgG, IgA and IgM, serum endoglin, leptin consantrations were determined in all groups. Patients were divided according to the biyopsy findings into those with or without significant fibrosis.Serum IgG and endoglin levels were higher in chronic hepatitis B patients compared to healty group. However there was no significant differences any of serum marker levels among patients having minimal or moderate activity and severe activity.Serum globulin and immunoglobulin levels; IgG, IgA and IgM, serum endoglin, leptin consantrations were compared between chronic hepatitis C and control groups. IgG, IgM, endoglin and leptin levels was significantly different between two groups. However no significant association was found between liver fibrosis and determining markers.As a result, serum endoglin and IgG levels can determine the fibrosis in patients with chronic HBV and HCV infection.