Human hepatocyte growth factor in alcoholic liver disease: a comparison with change in alpha-fetoprotein. Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study Group 275.
To evaluate the hepatic regenerative response in patients with alcoholic liver disease, sera from 263 patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis and/or cirrhosis were analyzed for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). HGF concentration was elevated above healthy controls in 95% of the patients (median level = 2.4 ng/ml), whereas AFP tended to be depressed below controls (median level = 4.1 ng/ml). Correlations with parameters of liver injury (i.e., ascites, encephalopathy, AST bilirubin, and protime) all showed a more significant correlation with HGF concentrations than those of AFP. Patients with HGF levels below the mean (4 ng/ml) exhibited significantly better survival (median survival = 35 months vs. 8.5 months for those with HGF > or = 4 ng/ml; p = 0.007). Serum HGF levels were associated with various specific histologic features of alcoholic hepatitis that included, but were not exclusively related to, necrosis.
Mendenhall
C L
CL
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (151F), Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA.
Roos
F
F
Moritz
T E
TE
Roselle
G A
GA
Chedid
A
A
Grossman
C J
CJ
Rouster
S D
SD
Bennett
G L
GL
Lake
J R
JR
D002149:Energy Intake; D006519:Hepatitis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor