title: Fibrogenesis serum markers in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with alpha-IFN.
abstract: The correlation between therapeutic response and liver fibrogenesis was studied in serum and liver specimens taken from 31 patients treated with alpha-interferon (IFN) (14 sustained responders and 17 non-responders) for chronic hepatitis C. Serum samples, collected before therapy, and at further 6-month intervals over 2 years, were tested for markers of liver neofibrogenesis. Serum N-terminal procollagen III peptide (PIIINP) displayed a significant and persistent decrease (P < 0.05) in sustained responders but not in non-responders; significantly lowered (P < 0.05) mean levels of C-terminal procollagen I peptide (PICP) were transiently observed in both patient groups, apparently as a result of IFN administration. Serum laminin (Lam) levels remained unchanged. One year after the cessation of treatment, liver biopsy re-testing showed an improvement in necro-inflammatory scores only in sustained responders, with the histological fibrosis scores remaining unaltered in both groups. IFN treatment seemed to exert an influence on serum levels of markers of hepatic connective tissue turnover even in patients that did not respond to therapy, while no effect was observed on preexistent liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, S. Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fabris
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marranconi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bozzola
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Biasin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Lazzari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plebani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Benedetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tositti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellizzer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stecca
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Lalla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016014:Linear Models; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; C042813:procollagen type I carboxy terminal peptide