[Estrogen receptor gene polymorphisms and HBV-induced liver cirrhosis]

To investigate the relationship between estrogen receptor (ER) gene polymorphisms and HBV-induced cirrhosis.

Xba I and Pvu II polymorphisms of ER gene were analyzed in 98 patients with HBV-induced cirrhosis, 72 patients with chronic hepatitis B, and 84 healthy controls by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique.

The frequencies of Pp genotype and P allele of ER gene in patients with HBV-induced cirrhosis were higher than those in patients with chronic hepatitis B and controls, while the frequencies of pp genotype and p allele of ER gene in patients with HBV-induced cirrhosis were lower than those in patients with chronic hepatitis B and controls (P < 0.05). The risk of HBV-induced cirrhosis occurrence in carriers with Pp and pp genotype was 2.23 folds than that in carriers with pp genotype. There was no significant difference in frequencies of allele and genotype in Xba I polymorphism among the HBV-induced cirrhosis group, the chronic hepatitis B group, and the control group (P > 0.05).

Pp genotype and P allele might be the susceptibility gene for HBV-induced cirrhosis while pp genotype and p allele might be the protective gene.