Objective        To investigate the correlation between the serum markers and the pathological stage of hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients with low duplication of HBV-DNA and normal or mildly abnormal hepatic function.       Methods        Eighty-four hepatitis B patients with low duplication of HBV-DNA and normal or mildly abnormal hepatic function were enrolled and divided into a young group (age 45 years

n=58) and an old group (age≥45 years

n=26). The serum levels of hyaluron

ic acid (HA)

laminin (LN)

procollagen III (Pc III) and collagen IV (C IV) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

and meanwhile liver biopsy was performed to examine the pathological stage (S

0

-S

4

) of hepatic fibrosis.       Results        The serum levels of HA

LN

Pc III and C IV were significantly higher in the old group than in the young group (P0.01). The serum levels of HA

Pc III and C IV increased along with the aggravation of hepatic fibrosis

and they were positively correlated with the pathological stage of hepatic fibrosis (r=0.618

0.575 and 0.492

respectively; P0.01). The serum level of LN was not correlated with the degree of hepatic fibrosis (P0.05).       Conclusion        In hepatitis B patients with low duplication of HBV-DNA and normal or mildly subnormal hepatic function

the serum levels of HA

Pc III and C IV can be used as markers for predicting the pathological stage of hepatic fibrosis.