Study on expression and role of cyclooxygenase-2 in the chronic hepatitis B.

Objective To study the significance of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) expression in serum in the patients with chronic hepatitis B.Methods The COX-2 protein was determined in serum in 30 cases with chronic hepatitis B,10 cases with liver cirrhosis,10 control cases by ELISA and the relationship between the expression level of COX-2 and liver disease severity was analyzed.Results The expressions of COX-2 in serum in chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis group was increased and obviously higher than the controls(P = 0.0001),also increased with hepatic inflammation getting worse,(P = 0.0001).Conclusion COX-2 could increase both in serum and would play a role in pathological process in chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis.