丙型病毒性肝炎患者血清瘦素的检测

研究丙肝患者血清leptin水平的变化。采用RIA检测65例丙肝组患者,80名对照组血清leptin水平,以及各种生化指标,比较各组的leptin水平以及leptin与各生化指标的相关性。结果显示慢性丙肝患者血清leptin水平较对照组明显升高(P<0.01);血清leptin水平与谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、谷草转氨酶(AST)呈显著性正相关(P<0.05);而与血糖(Glu)、总胆固醇(TC)无明显相关性(P>0.05)。慢性丙肝患者血清leptin水平升高且与肝脏炎症病变严重程度有关,leptin可以作为一个判断肝脏炎症严重程度的指标。     

慢加急性肝衰竭患者外周血IL-21水平检测及其意义

目的 检测慢加急性肝衰竭患者外周血中IL-21表达,探讨IL-21水平与丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)、总胆红素(TBil)及白蛋白(ALB)的相关性.方法 分离60例慢加急性肝衰竭患者外周血淋巴细胞,Trizol提取细胞总RNA,real-time PCR检测IL-21 mRNA表达水平.用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测60例慢加急性肝衰竭患者(重肝组)及18名健康人(对照组)血清中IL-21蛋白表达,并与患者ALT、AST、TBil、ALB进行相关性分析.结果 重肝组患者外周血中IL-21表达高于对照组,两组之间的差异有统计学意义(P ＜0.05);IL-21水平与ALT、AST、TBil呈正相关(P＜0.05),与ALB呈负相关(P＜0.05).结论 慢加急性肝衰竭患者血清中IL-21表达增高,与炎症程度相关,可能参与慢加急性肝衰竭的发病有关,可作为判断肝脏炎症程度的指标.     

动态检测血清表皮生长因子在乙型肝炎中的意义

观察乙型病毒性肝炎及肝硬化患者甘草酸二胺注射液治疗前、后血清表皮生长因子(EGF)水平变化.108例肝病患者分为五组, 其中急性肝炎13例, 慢性肝炎轻度17例, 慢性肝炎中度30例, 慢性肝炎重度25例, 肝炎肝硬化23例, 设对照组30名.EGF检测采用RIA分析方法.同时观察HA、LN、PCⅢ、C-Ⅳ与EGF的关系.急性肝炎组、慢性肝炎组、肝炎肝硬化组患者血清EGF水平与对照组相比具有显著性差异(P＜0.01).在药物治疗后其水平明显低于治疗前(P＜0.05).相关性分析表明, 血清EGF水平与各肝纤维化指标具有显著相关性.提示动态观察EGF水平, 对了解肝脏炎症及肝纤维化状况、疗效判断具有一定的参考价值.     

肝纤四项联合其他肝功能指标检测对肝脏疾病的临床价值分析

目的通过对5种不同种类的肝脏疾病和对照组进行血清透明质酸(HA)、层黏连蛋白(LN)、Ⅲ型前胶原(PC-Ⅲ)和Ⅳ型胶原(CⅣ)水平检测,探讨四项指标在肝脏疾病监测中的临床应用价值。方法对慢性重型乙型病毒肝炎患者82例,自身免疫性肝炎患者69例,药物性肝炎患者35例,其他慢性肝炎患者38例,肝功能衰竭患者39例,健康正常对照组61例进行肝纤四项指标的检测,比较各组肝纤四项的水平。同时测定肝病常用指标:胆汁酸、总胆红素(TB)、直接胆红素(DB)、谷草转氨酶(AST)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、γ-谷氨酰转肽酶(γ- GT)、白蛋白(ALB)、凝血酶原时间(PT)、纤维蛋白原(Fg)水平。分析肝纤四项与各项指标水平的相关性。结果慢性重型乙型病毒肝炎组、自身免疫性肝炎组、肝功能衰竭组四项指标水平均明显高于对照组,药物性肝炎组HA和PC-Ⅲ水平高于对照组,慢性重型乙型病毒肝炎组和肝功能衰竭组各项指标水平无差异,慢性重型乙型病毒肝炎组中肝纤四项指标水平与其他常用肝脏检测指标水平的相关性最为显著,肝功能衰竭组肝纤四项指标水平较为独立。结论肝纤四项指标与其他指标的联合监测能更好的反映发展性肝脏疾病发生发展的活跃情况,及对疾病治疗效果的全面评估。     

瘦素与TNF-α在妊高征胎盘中的表达及相关性研究

目的检测胎盘瘦素、TNF-α的表达并探讨两者的相关性.方法采用免疫组化方法检测66例妊高征(分轻中重三组)及25例正常对照组胎盘瘦素、TNF-α的表达水平.结果中重度妊高征组胎盘瘦素的表达水平显著高于对照组(P均＜0.01),轻度与对照组无显著差异(P＞0.05);妊高征组胎盘TNF-α的表达显著高于对照组(P＜0.05、P＜0.01、P＜0.01);中、重度PIH组瘦素及TNF-α呈正相关性(r=0.571、P＜0.05及r=0.657、P＜0.01).结论瘦素、TNF-α参与PIH发病,PIH时TNF-α可调节瘦素水平,炎症与代谢过程共同引发PIH.     

慢性丙型肝炎发生肝脂肪变与血清瘦素的关系

目的 探讨慢性丙型肝炎(chronic hepatitis C,CHC)患者发生肝脂肪变与血清瘦素水平的关系.方法 将未治疗的成年CHC患者80例分为有肝脂肪变组(8例)与无肝脂肪变组(72例),以单纯非酒精性脂肪性肝病(non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,NAFLD)26例作为对照组,比较各组血清瘦素等生化指标有无差异.结果 CHC有肝脂肪变组ALT、AST水平高于NAFLD组(t=2.10,P＜0.05;t=3.56,P＜0.05),血清总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、载脂蛋白A和B水平低于NAFLD组(t=-2.78,P＜0.05;t=-3.23,P＜0.05;t=-3.81,P＜0.05;t=-2.76,P＜0.05),两组瘦素水平差异无统计学意义(t=-0.30,P＞0.05).两组CHC的ALT、AST、FPG、TG、TC、LDL-C、APO-A、APO-B、胰岛素抵抗指数、HCVRNA水平、血清瘦素水平和体质量指数差异均无统计学意义(t值分别为-1.25,0.29,0.16,-0.53,0.90,1.58,1.93、0.40、0.24,-0.84,-0.05、-0.91,P均大于0.05).血清瘦素水平女性显著高于男性(t=2.22,P＜0.05).结论 CHC发生肝脂肪变时炎症程度重于NAFLD,胆固醇代谢异常程度轻于NAFLD.血清瘦素水平女性高于男性.CHC发生肝脂肪变与血清瘦素水平无关.     

COPD稳定期患者血清Fbg、IgE及FeNO水平变化及其与疾病严重程度与肺功能的关系分析

目的:探讨慢性阻塞性肺疾病(CDPD)稳定期患者血清纤维蛋白原(Fbg)、免疫球蛋白E(IgE)及呼出气一氧化氮(FENO)水平变化,分析其与疾病严重程度与肺功能的关系.方法:选取本院 2020 年 8 月-2023 年 11月 60例COPD稳定期患者纳入COPD组(轻度 23 例、中度 22 例、重度 15 例),另选60 例健康体检者作为对照组,检测两组肺功能指标第 1 秒用力呼气容积实测与预计值比值(FEV1%)、呼气峰流速(PEF)、最大呼气中段流量(MMF)水平,对比两组血清Fbg、IgE水平及FeNO水平差异,采用Spearman相关性分析其与疾病严重程度的关系,通过Pearson 相关性分析COPD组患者肺功能指标与血清Fbg、IgE水平及FeNO水平的相关性.结果:COPD组肺功能指标FEV1%、MMF、PEF水平低于对照组(P＜0.05);COPD组血清Fbg、IgE及FeNO水平高于对照组(P＜0.05);重度患者血清 Fbg、IgE 及 FeNO 水平均高于中度组,中度组高于轻度组(P＜0.05);Spearman相关性分析结果显示Fbg、IgE及FeNO水平分别与疾病严重程度呈现正相关(P＜0.05);Pearson相关性分析结果显示Fbg、IgE及FeNO水平分别与肺功能指标FEV1%、MMF、PEF水平呈现负相关(P＜0.05).结论:COPD稳定期患者血清Fbg、IgE呈现高表达,FeNO水平升高,且其水平可在一定程度上反映患者疾病严重程度和肺功能水平.     

慢性重型乙型肝炎患者血清IL-23水平检测及其意义

目的 检测慢性重型乙型肝炎患者血清中IL-23表达,探讨IL-23水平与丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)、总胆红素(TBil)及HBV DNA载量的相关性.方法 用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测50例慢性重型乙型肝炎患者(重肝组)及18名健康人(对照组)血清中IL-23表达,并与患者ALT、AST、TBil、HBV DNA载量进行相关性分析.结果 重肝组患者血清中IL-23表达高于对照组,两组之间的差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);IL-23水平与ALT、AST呈正相关(P＜0.05),与TBil、HBV DNA载量无相关性(P＞0.05).结论 慢性重型乙型肝炎患者血清中IL-23表达增高,与炎症程度相关,可能参与慢性重型乙型肝炎的发病.     

精神分裂症伴非酒精性脂肪肝患者血浆瘦素水平

目的探讨瘦素与精神分裂症患者非酒精性脂肪肝(NAFLD)的关系。方法 35例精神分裂症伴NAFLD患者(NAFLD组)测定血浆瘦素;同时测定体质量指数(BMI)、空腹血糖、血脂;以血清甘油三酯和血糖所得简易指数(TyG)评定IR、肝脏超声衰减系数评定NAFLD严重程度,并与35例不伴NAFLD的精神分裂症患者(对照组)进行对照。结果①NAFLD组患者BMI、TG、TC、TyG指数显著高于对照组(t=2.074~8.482,P=0.044~0.000),而HDL-C显著低于对照组(t=2.367,P=0.024);②NAFLD组患者瘦素显著高于对照组(t=7.112,P=0.000),协方差分析调整影响因素后差异仍有显著性(F=5.099,P=0.026);③NAFLD组患者肝脏超声衰减系数值显著高于对照组(t=9.953,P=0.000);④NAFLD组肝脏超声衰减系数值与血浆瘦素水平正相关(r=0.419,P=0.017),偏相关分析调整影响因素后、二者仍正相关(r=0.379,P=0.038)。结论精神分裂症伴NAFLD患者血浆瘦素水平增高,可能与NAFLD的发生机制有关。     

非酒精性脂肪肝病患者血清肿瘤坏死因子-α的检测及意义

目的 检测非酒精性脂肪肝病(NAFLD)患者与健康对照者体格、生化指标和血清肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)的水平,了解血清TNF-α等在NAFLD发生发展中的意义.方法 选择NAFLD患者132例,正常对照132例.测量身高、体重、腰围(WC)、血压,检测肝功、血糖(GLU)、血脂、尿酸和指标;采用酶联免疫法(ELISA)检测病例与对照者血清TNF-α水平,分析NAFLD与炎症因子TNF-α的相关性.构建Logistic回归模型分析NAFLD的影响因素.结果 NAFLD组体质指数(BMI)[(25.37±3.29) kg/m2]、腰围[(84.33±11.00)cm]、收缩压[(134.93±19.32) mmHg]、舒张压[(82.50±13.33)mmHg]和血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT)[(24.59±16.01)U/L]、谷草转氨酶(AST)[(23.88±10.56) U/L]、尿酸(UA)[(322.96±95.57) μmol/L]、甘油三酯(TG)[(1.69 ±0.96) mmol/L]等生化指标水平均明显高于对照组[分别为BMI (23.11±2.23) kg/m2、WC (78.00±6.67) cm、收缩压(122.73±17.64) mmHg、舒张压(75.35±11.52) mmHg、ALT(15.62±10.64)U/L、AST(19.79±5.68) U/L、UA(287.91±93.16)μmol/L、TG(1.23±0.74) mmol/L,P＜0.01].NAFLD患者血清TNF-α的水平[(2.78±1.46) pg/ml]明显高于对照组[(2.17±1.21) pg/ml],差异有统计学意义(P均＜0.05);NAFLD与血清TNF-α水平均呈正相关[r值为0.185,P＜0.01].两组TNF-α、BMI、WC、SBP、DBP、ALT、AST、UA、TG水平的差异均有统计学意义(均为P＜0.05),而GLU、总胆固醇(CHOL)差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).多因素Logistic回归分析显示血清TNF-α、BMI、TG是NAFLD的危险因素,OR(95％ CI)分别为1.826(1.708～2.664)、1.689(1.542～1.891)、1.437(1.127～1.737),P值均＜0.05).结论 非酒精性脂肪肝病患者血清TNF-α水平明显升高,提示TNF-α可能在非酒精性脂肪肝的发生发展中起重要作用.     

Adenosine deaminase activity in serum of patients with hepatitis -- a useful tool in monitoring clinical status.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The evaluation of adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in sera of patients with hepatitis should be considered a useful tool in the monitoring of their clinical status. In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between viral load, transaminase levels, and serum ADA levels in hepatitis B virus (HBV)- and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. METHODS: Seventy three patients with hepatitis B, 71 patients with hepatitis C and 40 healthy individuals were included. Patients with HBV and HCV infections were classified into 3 groups according to viral load. Serum ADA levels were investigated by colorimetric assays. RESULTS: Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and ADA levels of HBV- and HCV-infected patients were higher than those of the control group. These differences were statistically significant for the levels of all enzymes in HCV-infected patients (p<0.05), and all except AST (p>0.05) in HBV-infected patients. ADA levels of HBV-infected patients with high viral loads were higher than those in HBV-infected patients with intermediate and low viral loads, and the difference was detectably significant between patients with high and intermediate viral loads. Evaluation of HCV-infected patients according to viral load showed no statistically significant relationship between viral load and serum ADA, ALT, and AST levels (p>0.05). HBV- and HCV-infected patients with high ALT and AST levels showed statistically significantly higher levels of ADA than patients with normal ALT and AST levels (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that serum ADA levels are associated more with the level of serum transaminases than viral load in HBV- and HCV-infected patients. In the treatment of patients with hepatitis, serum ADA levels should be considered a useful tool for the monitoring of liver condition.     

肝功与血脂血清学指标水平检验在脂肪肝诊断中的应用

目的 研究肝功与血脂血清学指标水平检验在脂肪肝诊断中的应用。方法 选取2018年1月~2019年1月在我院治疗的35例脂肪肝患者设为脂肪肝组,另选取同期在我院健康体检者35例为对照组,比较两组天冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）、丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）。结果脂肪肝组AST（81.55 6.82）U/L、ALT（57.23±7.85）U/L水平高于对照组（41.17±6.19）U/L、（25.88±5.86）U/L,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;脂肪肝组TC（6.86±1.31）mmol/L、TG（2.36±1.22）mmol/L、LDL-C（3.98 1.31）mmol/L水平高于对照组（4.22±1.08）mmol/L、(1.23±0.65)mmol/L、(3.98±1.31)mmol/L,HDL-C（1.06±0.78）mmol/L低于对照组(1.06±0.78)mmol/L,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 脂肪肝患者肝功与血脂血清学指标水平与健康者存在差异,临床可通过筛查肝功与血脂血清学指标脂肪肝,为早期诊治提供参考依据。     

糖尿病非酒精性脂肪肝病大鼠肝组织胰岛素受体、瘦素受体 mRNA的表达

目的：观察2型糖尿病大鼠肝脏的病理变化,探讨肝组织胰岛素受体（insulin R）、瘦素受体（leptin R）mRNA表达在糖尿病性非酒精性脂肪肝病（NAFLD）发病机制中的作用。方法：SD大鼠随机分成2组：正常组与2型糖尿病组。2型糖尿病组在以高脂饮食4周后,加小剂量(30 mg/kg)链脲佐菌素（STZ）诱导2型糖尿病性非酒精性脂肪性肝病大鼠模型,继续给予高脂饮食12周。分别采用HE染色、苏丹Ⅲ染色、Masson染色光镜下观察肝脏组织的病理改变;透射电镜观察肝脏超微结构改变;生化法检测血糖、血甘油三酯（TG）、血总胆固醇（TC）、丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）和天门冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）水平;放免法检测血清胰岛素水平;ELISA法检测血清瘦素水平;RT-PCR法检测肝组织磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧激酶（PEPCK）、葡萄糖-6-磷酸酶（G6Pase）、insulin R、leptin R mRNA表达水平。结果：糖尿病大鼠肝细胞明显脂肪变性、碎片状坏死伴炎细胞浸润及肝纤维化病变,电镜下主要表现为肝细胞核固缩,胞浆内含大量脂滴,狄氏间隙胶原纤维增生;血糖、血胰岛素、TG、ALT、AST水平明显升高（P<0.01）,TC水平升高(P<0.05）,血清瘦素水平明显下降（P<0.01）;肝组织insulin R、leptin R mRNA表达显著升高（P<0.01）,PEPCK、G6Pase mRNA表达无显著变化。结论：2型糖尿病时的胰岛素抵抗是NAFLD发生的根源,由于胰岛素抵抗而致的低血清瘦素水平、肝组织insulin R、leptin R 表达上调参与了NAFLD的发生。     

血清GP73在肝病患者中的表达水平

目的：探讨GP73的检测在肝脏疾病临床诊断中的应用价值。方法：收集295例各类肝脏疾病患者（213例病毒性肝炎、26例酒精性肝炎、23例自身免疫性肝炎和33例非酒精性脂肪肝）及33例健康对照组血清,采用酶联免疫分析和化学发光分析分别对血清GP73进行定量检测,并对治疗前后进行分析比较;应用生化分析仪检测ALT、ALP、AST、GGT、CHE、ALB、TBIL、AFP的含量,运用荧光定量PCR方法检测HBVDNA拷贝,分析不同肝病患者血清GP73含量与其他指标的关系。结果：治疗前病毒性肝炎组、酒精性肝炎组、自身免疫性肝炎组其GP73含量的中位数均〉健康对照组（U分别为240．4、24．0和27．0）,非酒精性脂肪肝组与健康对照组无统计学意义（U=157．5,P〉0．05）;病毒性肝炎组与酒精性肝炎组、自身免疫性肝炎组比较有统计学意义（U分别为760．5和1299．0,P〈0．05）;病毒性肝炎组、自身免疫性肝炎组治疗前后均有统计学意义（u分别为67．2、99．4,P〈0．01）,酒精性肝炎组治疗前后无统计学意义（U为1322,P〉0．05）。血清GP73与CHE、ALB呈负相关（r分别为-0．454,-0．469）,与GGT、TBIL呈正相关（r分别为0．34和0．39）。结论：血清GP73在病毒性肝炎、酒精性肝炎和自身免疫性肝炎中表达上调,可作为病毒性肝炎和自身免疫性肝炎患者治疗疗效的观察指标之一。     

GLP-1下调非酒精性脂肪肝大鼠SOCS-3和SREBP-1c的表达

目的:探讨胰高血糖素样肽-l(GLP-1)对非酒精性脂肪肝大鼠SOCS-3和SREBP-1c mRNA表达的影响。方法:将雄性SD大鼠32只随机分为正常对照(NC)组、高脂(HF)组和HF+利拉鲁肽(Lira)组。HF组和HF+Lira组给予高脂饲料喂养16周,HF+Lira组高脂喂养12周后,给予Lira 600μg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)腹腔注射4周。在16周末处死大鼠。全自动生化仪检测血清ALT、AST、甘油三酯(TG)和总胆固醇(TC);GPO-PAP法测定肝脏TG含量;酶联免疫法测定空腹胰岛素,并计算胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR);光学显微镜下观察肝脏病理变化;RTqPCR法测定肝组织SOCS-3和SREBP-1c的mRNA表达水平。结果:与NC组相比,HF组血清ALT、AST、TG、TC、肝TG、FINS及HOMA-IR均明显升高(P0.01);HF+Lira组与HF组相比,血清的ALT、AST、TG、TC、肝TG、FINS及HOMA-IR均下降,差异有统计学显著性(P0.05)。HF组肝组织SOCS-3和SREBP-1c的mRNA表达水平较NC组显著增强(P0.01);HF+Lira组较HF组SOCS-3和SREBP-1c的mRNA表达显著下降(P0.05)。结论:Lira可能通过下调肝组织SOCS-3和SREBP-1c的mRNA表达,改善IR,减少肝脏TG沉积,从而对非酒精性脂肪性肝病起到治疗作用。     

Predictors of hepatic steatosis in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients and their diagnostic values in hepatic fibrosis

Objective: To investigate predictors of hepatic steatosis in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and their diagnostic values in hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Methods: A total of 106 HBeAg-negative CHB patients with clinically and pathologically proven steatosis and 98 patients without steatosis were recruited into this study. The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHOL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin (Alb), globulin (Glb), HBV DNA, body mass index (BMI), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and pathological changes of the liver in inflammation, fibrosis and fatty deposition were examined in all patients. Results: The levels of BMI, HOMA-IR, FBG, insulin, TG, and CHOL were significantly higher in patients with steatosis than those without steatosis (all P<0.05). But ALT, AST and HBV DNA levels were significantly lower in patients with steatosis (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that only FINS was a significant predictor for hepatic steatosis (P<0.05); FINS and Glb were significant predictors for hepatic inflammation (all P<0.05); BMI and TC were significant predictors for hepatic fibrosis (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Hepatic steatosis, a common disease in HBeAg-negative CHB patients, was positively associated with BMI, FBG, FINS, TG, TC, GGT, ALP and HOMA-IR. In these patients, the prevalence of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis was also increased.     

重型肝炎患者血清皮质醇水平的研究

目的 探讨病毒性重型肝炎患者血清皮质醇浓度的变化.方法 应用放射免疫法测定50例病毒性肝炎患者血清皮质醇浓度.其中重型肝炎患者30例,慢性乙型肝炎患者20例.同时检测患者肝功能、PTA等实验室指标.结果 重型肝炎患者组血清皮质醇浓度较慢性乙型肝炎患者组低（P〈0.05）,较正常对照组低（P〈0.05）;在重型肝炎患者中,血清皮质醇浓度与PTA呈显著正相关（r=0.445,P〈0.05）,重型肝炎患者血清皮质醇浓度与患者血清ALT无明显相关性（P〉0.05）,与AST/ALT比值呈显著负相关（r=-0.367,P〈0.05）,与患者血清总胆红素无明显相关性（P〉0.05）;重型肝炎患者死亡组的血清皮质醇浓度明显低于存活组（P〈0.05）;对重型肝炎患者进行MELD评分,MELD分值越高组,皮质醇浓度越低.结论 重型肝炎患者皮质醇浓度降低,其与肝脏功能损害、病情严重程度有关,皮质醇水平与患者预后有关.     

Similar increased serum dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity in chronic hepatitis C and other viral infections.

BACKGROUND: Dipeptidyl peptidase IV is a transmembrane enzyme widely expressed in many cell types, but also present as a soluble form in biological fluids. Its abnormal activity is sometimes associated with liver disease related pathologies. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical relevance of changes in serum DPPIV activity in hepatitis C and other viral infections. STUDY DESIGN: DPPIV activity was assessed by using a microplate-based colorimetric assay on serum from 88 subjects: 12 healthy uninfected controls, 10 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) as a reference group, 36 HCV-infected patients, and patients suffering from viral infections of different etiologies. Levels of DPPIV activity were compared with: (1) those of other serum biochemical parameters such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and bilirubin concentrations; and (2) criteria representative of liver histological status. RESULTS: Compared with healthy subjects, DPPIV activity was significantly increased during viral infections and in PBC (P<0.01). In HCV-infected patients, the median activity (interquartile range, IQR), 29.78 IU/l (24.66-35.95), differed significantly (P<0.05) from that of controls: 21.42 (19.76-24.93). No correlation was observed between DPPIV activity and either ALT, AST, bilirubin, or the stage of liver fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity, although GGT was moderately correlated (r=0.58, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although we confirmed an elevation of serum DPPIV activity in PBC, it seems to be a non-specific phenomenon common to viral infections. The absence of correlation between serum DPPIV and markers of liver disease in HCV-infected patients, suggests that this activity originates not only from the liver, but also from other sources such as peripheral blood cells involved in the control of viral infections.