Serum markers for connective tissue turnover in patients with chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C: A comparative analysis

Clinical and pathological differences between chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C have now been established. Methods: To compare hepatic connective tissue metabolism in chronic hepatitis B and C, we determined serum levels of prolyl 4-hydroxylase β-subunit, procollagen III aminoterminal peptide, type IV collagen 7S domain, the central helix region of type IV collagen, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase, and hyaluronan in 55 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 83 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Results: There were no significant differences in the above markers for connective tissue turnover between the chronic hepatitis B group and the chronic hepatitis C group. Conclusions: These results suggest that the accelerated connective tissue metabolism observed in chronic viral hepatitis is independent of the causative virus.