Correlation of serum chemokine RANTES level with serum biochemical indices, HBeAg and HBV DNA load in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Abstract

To investigate the level of the serum chemokine RANTES and its correlation with serum biochemical indices of liver function test, HBeAg and HBV DNA load in patients with chronic hepatitis B. 144 patients with chronic hepatitis B (observed group) and 18 normal cases (control group) were enrolled in this study. The serum level of chemokine RANTES was detected with an ABC-ELISA assay. Statistical analysis was performed on the software of SPSS13.0. The serum chemokine RANTES level in the observed group (3930.12 ng/ml 2856.96) ng/ml was significantly higher than that in the control group (329.46 ng/ml +/- 152.23) ng/ml. The results from the observed group indicated the positive correlation of serum RANTES level with indices of liver function test, including ALT (r = 0.197, P = 0.018), AST(r = 0.239, P = 0.004) and TBil (r = 0.316, P = 0.001), but did not with PTA (r = - 0.078, P = 0.357). Neither difference of serum chemokine RANTES level between HBeAg-positive group and HBeAg-negative group nor that between high HBV DNA load group (> or = 10(5) copies/ml) and low HBV DNA load group (< 10(5) copies/ml) were statistically significant (P = 0.407 and 0.185, respectively). Serum chemokine RANTES level in patients with chronic hepatitis B elevates significantly and is not affected by HBeAg or HBV DNA load. Its positive correlation with indices of liver function test indicates that RANTES might play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B.