[Markers of hepatic fibrogenesis in alcoholic patients].
BACKGROUND
An elevation of serologic markers of hepatic fibrogenesis has been reported in liver diseases of different etiologies. Among these, the N-terminal type III procollagen (P-III-P) and the P1 proteolytic fragment of laminin (P1 laminin) increase in alcoholic liver damage, in proportion to the progression of this condition.


OBJECTIVE
To study serum levels of P-III-P and P1 laminin in asymptomatic alcoholics with and without liver damage and decompensated alcoholic cirrhotics, compared to normal controls.


METHODS
Serum P-III-P and laminin levels were measured in asymptomatic alcoholics during detoxification treatment. Liver biopsies were obtained, in order to detect liver damage, which was graded with a numeric score, considering values over 6 as severe damage. Serum fibrogenesis markers were also measured in a group of decompensated alcoholic cirrhotics.


RESULTS
P-III-P levels were significantly higher in cirrhotic patients compared to alcoholics with or without liver damage and to normal controls. Laminin was not different between groups. P-III-P did not correlate with histologic score in asymptomatic patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study P-III-P and P1 laminin were not usefull discriminators of severe liver damage among asymptomatic alcoholics; their levels were found to rise significantly only when liver disease has become clinically evident.
de la Maza
M P
MP
Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile.
Chichester
C
C
Hirsch
S
S
Petermann
M
M
Iturriaga
H
H
Bunout
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000097:blood; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D007797:Laminin; D011347:Procollagen