title: [Prediction of hepatic fibrosis using serum hyaluronic acid in patients with chronic liver disease].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The extent of hepatic fibrosis is important in chronic liver disease. Liver biopsy is essential for diagnosis of fibrosis. However, biopsy is invasive and may not represent the whole liver state. Serum hyaluronic acid (HA), a major component of connective tissues, was introduced as a useful non-invasive index of hepatic fibrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship among HA, the degree of fibrosis, several hematologic and biochemical parameters in patients with chronic liver diseases or post state liver transplantation (PSLT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Total 102 cases were divided into 4 groups: 57 chronic hepatitis (CH), 12 cirrhosis, 21 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 12 PSLT. HA was measured by enzyme-linked binding protein assay and evaluated in relation the degree of fibrosis, several hematologic and biochemical parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among four groups, HCC showed the highest HA and HA of HCC significantly higher than that of CH. The degree of fibrosis were correlated with HA. HA was correlated with age, platelet count and albumin but, not with ALT and PT. There is no significant relation between HA and the presence of acute rejection in liver transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In chronic liver diseases, HA is a useful non-invasive index of hepatic fibrosis and disease severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Wook
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Kew
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Byung Sik
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.forename: Ju Yeop
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jeong Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Jong Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Nam Ik
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Chang Don
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyu Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Hee Sik
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid