title: Serum endocan levels in patients with chronic liver disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Early detection of fibrosis should be the main goal of treatment in liver cirrhosis. Endocan, previously called endothelial cell specific molecule-1, is expressed by endothelial cells, primarily in the lung, liver and kidney. In this study, we aimed to examine the correlation of liver fibrosis stage, histological activity and grade of steatosis between serum levels of endocan in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study includes a total of 146 subjects. 55 CHB patients, 19 CHC patients, 38 NAFLD patients and 34 healthy controls were enrolled consecutively. Liver biopsies were performed in all patients with chronic viral hepatitis. NAFLD patients had either grade 2 or grade 3 steatosis on ultrasonography and elevated liver enzymes above the upper normal limits. Serum endocan levels were assessed from blood samples obtained at admission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gender distribution was similar among the groups (p=0.056). The mean age of the CHB patients was 45.8±12.1, CHC patients was 55.0±12.8 years, NAFLD patients was 42.8±10.8, while control group was 39.4±13.6 years old. Patients with CHC were older than all the others (p=0.001). Serum endocan levels were statistically significantly lower in CHB, CHC and NAFLD groups when compared with controls. Although levels of endocan were lower in CHB and CHC groups when compared with NAFLD group, the difference was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum endocan concentrations decrease in patients with liver disease. Unlike previous studies, we showed a negative correlation between endocan levels and inflammation stage of chronic hepatitis. However, further studies are needed to establish the association between endocan levels, liver fibrosis and hepatic inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Turkish Armed Forces Health Command Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Duran
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tok
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hatay Antakya State Hospital Turkey.
authors.forename: Fuat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ekiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Basar
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Dışkapı Education and Research Hospital Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sahin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coban
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Dışkapı Education and Research Hospital Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulfer
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozturk
keywords: Chronic hepatitis B; chronic hepatitis C; endocan; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease