title: Serum markers for connective tissue turnover in patients with chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C: a comparative analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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 beta-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.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003094:Collagen / Q000097:blood; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood; D011393:Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase / Q000097:blood; D012044:Regression Analysis; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006023:Glycoproteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D003094:Collagen; D011393:Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase