title: Development of a rapid semi-quantitative immunochromatographic assay for serum hepatocyte growth factor and its usefulness in acute liver failure.
abstract: Measurement of serum human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is useful for the early diagnosis and prediction of prognosis of patients with acute liver failure (ALF). This ELISA methodology, however, is neither rapid nor convenient for use at the bedside. In this study, we have developed a rapid semi-quantitative immunochromatographic (IC) assay and evaluated its usefulness in assessing patients with acute hepatic injury. Only 100mul of serum is required; the assay can be easily completed in 20min. The values obtained using this novel assay correlated well with the values obtained using the standard ELISA protocol. In addition, the values obtained in the IC assay correlated with clinical course; increased serum HGF levels were associated with an increased frequency of ALF and death. These results indicate that this rapid semi-quantitative IC assay for HGF is useful for the early diagnosis of ALF and prediction of clinical outcome in acute hepatic injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uto
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ido
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kusumoto
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hasuike
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Katsuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Toshiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamagishi
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gohda
authors.forename: Hirohito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsubouchi