Characteristics of serum GP73 for patients with hepatitis E and its clinical significances

Objective To investigate the variable characteristics of serum GP73 for patients with hepatitis E. Methods The changes of GP73 level in serum of 80 healthy subjects (control group) and 66 patients with hepatitis E were detected by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The median level of serum GP73 for patients with hepatitis E (80.06 ± 52.33 ng/ml) was significantly increased than that of 80 healthy control subjects (38.82 ± 15.67 ng/ml), with significant difference (t = 6.785, P < 0.0001). The level of serum GP73 in patients with hepatitis E had positive correlation with the serum activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (r = 0.28, P = 0.015), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (r = 0.36, P = 0.002) and the level of serum total bilirubin (TBil) (r = 0.47, P < 0.001). While it had negative correlation with the prothrombin time activity (PTA) (r =-0.329, P = 0.004). Conclusions The possibility of acute hepatitis E infection should be considered for those who with significangly elevated serum GP73. Serum GP73 levels in patients with hepatitis E may be correlated with liver damage. Key words: Hepatitis E; Golgi protein 73; Liver injury; Diagnosis