Long-term follow-up of serum N-terminal propeptide of collagen type III levels in patients with chronic liver disease.
To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic significance of the N-terminal propeptide of collagen Type III (Col 1-3) in chronic liver disease, the peptide level was measured in the serum of 4 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, 5 with chronic persistent hepatitis, 12 with chronic active hepatitis, and 1 with autoimmune hepatitis, for a period of 2 to 10 years and compared with liver function and histology. In primary biliary cirrhosis, Col 1-3 peptide levels were always elevated, regardless of medical therapy; however, after liver transplantation in one patient, the Col 1-3 peptide level decreased. In chronic persistent hepatitis, the peptide level fluctuated around the upper limit of normal. Among patients with chronic active hepatitis, the Col 1-3 peptide level normalized in 2 patients during remission, but was elevated in 7 patients who developed cirrhosis. Only in a patient with autoimmune hepatitis was the Col 1-3 peptide level normal, although the patient developed cirrhosis during prednisone therapy. When prednisone was withdrawn, the Col 1-3 peptide level increased. The data suggest that the serum Col 1-3 peptide may estimate the course of liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease and has prognostic value, particularly in chronic active hepatitis. Persistent elevation suggests ongoing fibrosis and development of cirrhosis; normalization suggests remission.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide