Serum markers of hepatic fibrogenesis in chronic hepatitis type C treated with alfa-2A interferon.
Hepatic fibrogenesis is a dynamic process which characterizes the course of chronic hepatitis. It has stimulated interest in the possible effect of interferon therapy on liver fibrosis. We have evaluated a panel of serum markers of fibrogenesis, namely N-terminal procollagen III peptide (PII-INP), C-terminal procollagen I peptide (PICP), laminin and hyaluronate in 35 patients with chronic hepatitis type C, before, during and after interferon treatment. Before treatment, PIIINP was elevated in 8.5%, 44% and 71% of patients with chronic persistent hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis, respectively, while the corresponding figures for PICP were 0%, 50% and 46%, and for laminin 16.5%, 70% and 71%; hyaluronate was elevated in only five out of seven patients with cirrhosis. Patients with high PIIINP levels at presentation and a persistent response to treatment showed persistent normalization of this parameter, which was not observed in non-responders. In contrast, the other markers showed no significant correlation with interferon response. These results indicate that PIIINP correlates with interferon response in chronic hepatitis type C.
Gallorini
A
A
Istituto di Medicina Clinica, Università di Padova, Italy.
Plebani
M
M
Pontisso
P
P
Chemello
L
L
Masiero
M
M
Mantovani
G
G
Alberti
A
A
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007797:Laminin / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D015415:Biomarkers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007797:Laminin; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; C042813:procollagen type I carboxy terminal peptide; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid