The change and significance of serum MMP-2 levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis

Objective To investigate the change and significance of serum matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2) in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB) and liver cirrhosis(LC).Methods Serum MMP-2 was detected by ELISA in 75 patients with CHB and 41 patients with LC,and 30 healthy persons served as normal control.Results The serum MMP-2 concentrations in patients with moderate,sever degree CHB and LC Child-Pugh grade A,B and C patients were significantly highter than those in normal control.And there were significant differences in the serum MMP-2 levels among these five groups patients.Conclusion Since the serum levels of MMP-2 was significantly inceased in chronic liver disease,measurement of it may be helpful to evaluate the degree of hepatic fibrosis.