Diagnostic Value of Serum MMP-9 for Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis and Liver Cirrhosis

Objective To investigate the changes and clinical significance of serum MMP-9,and to determine whether MMP-9 can be used to assess the degree of liver cirrhosis. Methods Serum MMP-9,TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by ELISA in 30 patients with chronic hepatitis B,30 patients with liver cirrhosis and 15 heathy persons.Analyze the relationship between the expression levels of the MMP-9 with the TNF-α and IL-6. Results The serum MMP-9 levels of the patients with liver cirrhosis were significantly higher than the controls and chronic hepatitis(P0.05);The serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels of patients with chronic hepatitis as well as liver cirrhosis were significantly higher than the heathy persons(P0.05);There was no relationship between the expression levels of serum TNF-α and IL-6 with MMP-9 in patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis(P0.05).But the expression level of serum TNF-α was positively correlated with that of the serum IL-6 in patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis(P0.05). Conclusion The serum levels of MMP-9 was significantly inceased in chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis and measurement of it can be used as diagnostic indices for liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease.TNF-α and IL-6 have little effect on expression of MMP-9 levels of the patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis.