title: Matrix-derived serum markers in monitoring liver fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis B treated with interferon alpha.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate prospectively 4 selected serum fibrosis markers (tenascin, hyaluronan, collagen VI, TIMP-1) before, during and 12 mo after IFN treatment of children with chronic hepatitis B.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B (range 4-16 years, mean 8 years) underwent IFN treatment (3 MU tiw for 20 wk). Fibrosis stage and inflammation grade were assessed in a blinded fashion before and 12 mo after end of treatment. Serum fibrosis markers were determined using automated assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IFN treatment improved histological inflammation but did not change fibrosis in the whole group or in subgroups. Only hyaluronan correlated significantly with histological fibrosis(r = 0.3383, P = 0.021). Basal fibrosis markers did not differ between responders (42.5%) and nonresponders(57.5%). During IFN treatment only serum tenascin decreased significantly in the whole group and in nonresponders. When pretreatment values were compared to values 12 mo after therapy, TIMP-1 increased in all patients and in nonresponders, and hyaluronan decreased in all patients and in responders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tenascin reflects hepatic fibrogenesis and inflammation which decreases during IFN treatment of children with chronic hepatitis B. TIMP-1 correlates with nonresponse and hyaluronan with histological fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: IIIrd Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Dariusz-Marek
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lebensztejn
authors.forename: Maria-Elzbieta
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sobaniec-Lotowska
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaczmarski
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Voelker
authors.forename: Detlef
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schuppan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024142:Collagen Type VI / Q000097:blood; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019063:Tenascin / Q000097:blood; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D024142:Collagen Type VI; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019063:Tenascin; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid