[Serum markers of liver fibrogenesis and fibrosis].
Serum levels of some extracellular matrix components increased in different liver diseases are studied. Hyaluronic acid (HA) and amino-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PNIIIP) have been the most extensively studied serum components. In particular, serum levels of PNIIIP seem to be mainly correlated with histological activity in chronic hepatitis. Considering the close pathophysiological relationship between histological activity and fibrogenesis, it is possible to consider PNIIIP as a marker of fibrogenesis. Thus, serum PNIIIP could be a useful tool for monitoring the therapeutic response in patients with chronic hepatitis in treatment with antifibrogenetic and antifibrotic agents. Like PNIIIP, serum HA concentrations increase in patients with liver fibrosis. There is evidence that serum levels of HA are more strongly correlated with histological grades of liver fibrosis than serum PNIIIP. This suggests that serum HA may be preferable for discriminating patients with cirrhosis from those without cirrhosis. There are other extracellular matrix components and a combination of several serum markers could increase their diagnostic value, but further studies are needed to confirm this.
Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Rome.
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Festuccia
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Lauria
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Tariciotti
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Attili