Clinical significance of testing serum proteins related to liver functions in chronic HBV carriers.

Objective To investigate the serum levels of liver function - related proteins (Cholinesterase, ChE; album, Alb, prealbumin, PA; transferrin, TRF; ferritin, FRT; C - reactive protein, CRP; and ceruloplasmin, CER) and assess their clinical diagnostic significance for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers. Methods The study selected 86 HBV carriers who were diagnosed in the Affiliated Yong - Chuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2012 to July 2014 (the observation group). Additionally, 102 healthy individuals who underwent physical examination in the hospital were selected (the control group). Biochemical indices including serum ChE, Alb, PA, FRT, TRF, CRP, and CER levels were measured in both groups. Liver biopsy was performed in part of the observation group. Group comparison of continuous data was performed using the independent - samplest test. Results Serum CER levels in the observation and control groups were (0.20 ± 0.04) g/L vs (0.29 ± 0.06) g/L, showing a statistically significant difference (t = 2.03, P = 0.03). No significant differences occurred in the rest of biochemical indices between groups (P > 0.05 for all). Serum CER levels were significantly decreased in patients with higher severity of liver inflammation and fibrosis [(0.23 ± 0.01) g/L vs (0.18 ± 0.02) g/L, t = -2.6, P = 0.01; (0. 22 ± 0.02) g/L vs (0.17 ± 0.04) g/L, t = -3.2, P = 0.004]. Conclusion The change in serum CERlevel can reflect the severity of liver inflammation and fibrosis in the early stage. Thus, serum CER level may become an important index for early diagnosis and treatment of HBV carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]