title: Serum galectin-3 levels in children with chronic hepatitis B infection and inactive hepatitis B carriers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is common worldwide. Follow-up of patients by the use of non-invasive techniques may be valuable in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to investigate serum galectin-3 (GAL-3) levels for monitoring disease status in children with chronic HBV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 30 inactive HBV carrier patients, and 30 matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. We performed basic laboratory tests: serum glucose, albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time. In addition, serum GAL-3 levels were measured by ELISA technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly higher serum GAL-3 levels (16.5±3.6, 1.1±0.3, 0.7±0.5 ng/ml, respectively, p<0.001) and ALT levels (80.2±30.6, 26.8±12.6, 28.1±4.4 IU/L, respectively, p<0.001) were found in the CHB group compared with the inactive carriers and the control groups. There were no significant differences in ALT levels and GAL-3 levels or between inactive HBV carriers and the control groups (p>0.05, for each). Significantly higher GGT levels were found in the CHB group (51.3±27.5 IU/L) compared with the inactive HBV carriers (35.7±10.1 IU/L) and the control group (31.3±9.5 IU/L) (p<0.001, and p=0.004, respectively). A significant correlation was found between GAL-3 and ALT levels in the CHB group (r=0.82, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that serum GAL-3 level may be a beneficial indicator of chronicity in hepatitis B infection in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dicle University, Medcal School, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ünal
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Uluca
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dicle University, Medcal School, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Velat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Şen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dicle University, Medcal School, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aydın
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ece
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dicle University, Medcal School, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: İlhan
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dicle University, Medcal School, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Duran
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karabel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dicle University, Medcal School, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fesih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aktar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dicle University, Medcal School, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Müsemma
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karabel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dicle University, Medcal School, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Balık
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dicle University, Medcal School, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Güneş
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001798:Blood Proteins; D002353:Carrier State / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D037161:Galectins; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001798:Blood Proteins; D037502:Galectin 3; D037161:Galectins; C428445:LGALS3 protein, human; D012709:Serum Albumin; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase