Clinical significance of connective tissue growth factor in hepatitis B virus-induced hepatic fibrosis

Table 1 Serum connective tissue growth factor concentrations in patients with chronic liver diseases (μg/L)

Group	n	Median (95% CI)
Healthy control	30	2.2 (1.6-2.8)
HBV carrier	8	2.2 (1.5-2.9)
Chronic hepatitis B	107	8.8 (6.0-12.3)
Active liver cirrhosis	39	10.9 (7.0-14.6)

HBV: Hepatitis B virus.

Table 2 Relationship between fibrosis stage and hepatic or serum connective tissue growth factor content

Fibrosis stage	n	Serum CCN2(μg/L) median (95% CI)	Hepatic CCN2 mRNA(IOD) median (95% CI)
Normal control	8	2.2 (1.5-2.9)	6.0 (3.9-8.8)
F1	11	6.8 (5.0-8.9)	19.4 (12.3-26.4)
F2	9	8.9 (7.1-10.7)	25.6 (13.9-34.8)
F3	11	9.4 (7.3-12.0)	31.9 (19.7-44.6)
F4	8	10.1 (8.2-12.1)	39.6 (25.5-52.8)

Normal Control samples were from hepatitis B virus carriers and had normal liver histology; F1-F2: Mild fibrosis; F3-F4: Significant fibrosis. CCN2: Connective tissue growth factor; IOD: integrated optimal density.