Serum testosterone levels and androgen receptor CAG polymorphism correlate with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute liver failure in male HBV carriers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Augmentation of androgen/androgen receptor (AR) pathway may influence chronic hepatitis B (CHB) more likely in males. AR activity is modulated by a polymorphic CAG repeat sequence in AR exon 1. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum testosterone levels, CAG repeat numbers and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute liver failure (ALF).

Methods

Three hundred and seventy eight male CHB patients with ALF and 441 asymptomatic HBV carriers (AsCs) were recruited. AR CAG repeats numbers were analyzed. The serum testosterone levels of AsCs, ALFs and patients with hepatitis B flare groups, and sequential serum samples, were assessed quantitatively.

Results

The median CAG repeat (M-CAG) frequency was significantly higher in ALF patients than AsC

SUBMITTER: Xu BY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3877261 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature