Serum levels of epidermal growth factor in patients with hepatitis B before and after treatment

To observe the serum levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in patients with hepatitis B and cirrhosis, the levels of serum EGF in 108 patients with hepatitis B, chronic mild, moderate, severe hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis before and after treatment were detected by RIA. Hyaturonic acid (HA), laminin (LN), procollagen type III(PC III) and collagen type IV(C-IV) were also assayed in these patients, and 30 healthy blood donors served as normal control. The serum levels of EGF in patient with hepatitis B were remarkably higher than those in nomal control. After treatment, the serum levels of EGF, HA, LN, PCIII and C-III were decreased significantly compared with those before treatment (P<0.01). EGF were positively correlated with HA, LN, PCIII and C-IV. The results suggested that determination of serum EGF more times may be of value in assessment of the seveity of liver inflammation and fibrosis. It may also be used to observe the therapeutic effect. (authors)