MODERN DIAGNOSTIC MARKERS OF LIVER FIBROSIS IN CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC VIRAL HEPATITIS B AND C

Abstract. The article contains scientific data about modern markers of liver fibrosis in children with chronic viral hepatitis B and C such as: FABP-1-L, arginase-1 and YKL-40. The aim of study: to evaluate the level of arginase-1 in children with chronic viral hepatitis B and C. Material and methods: 40 patients with diagnoses of chronic viral hepatitis B and C (mean age – 11,48±0,6 years) were examined. All patients underwent of collecting of anamnesis, clinical examination, determination of the degree of liver fibrosis. Level of arginase-1 was performed by ELISA. Data analysis was performed using the software package “Statistica 8.0”. The reliability of the data difference was established by paired Student's t-test. The difference was considered significant at p<0,05. Results: In examined patients of study group level of Arg-1 was significant higher (108,58±4,9 ng/ml) compared with patients of control group (76,48±6,09 ng/ml) (p<0,001). Arg-1 level in male representatives was higher in both groups. Level of Arg-1 among patients of study and control group increased with increasing of patients’ age. The level of Arg-1 in children of study group with oncological diseases was higher (115,24±6,2 ng/ml), compared with children without this factor (96,22±7,14 ng/ml). Level of Arg-1 was significant higher in patients with liver fibrosis F0 (124,07±7,7 ng/ml; p<0,001), F1 (106,55±0,15 ng/ml; p<0,001), F1-2 (106,07±8,5 ng/ml; p<0,01), F2 (89,44 ng/ml; p<0,05) compared with control group (76,48±6,09 ng/ml). Correlation between Arg-1 level and liver fibrosis degree was detected among patients of study group (R=-0,49; p=0,001). Conclusion: Arginase-1 – important marker that should be studied by scientists nowadays to understand the pathogenesis of fibrogenesis of the liver.