title: Hepatocyte growth factor and chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by hepatic stellate cells and implicated in liver regeneration and fibrosis. Serum levels of HGF vary in liver diseases, reflecting hepatic damage and hepatocellular dysfunction. In this study, serum levels of HGF and the relationship between HGF and biochemical, histological and virological data, have been analysed in patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C (CHC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum HGF concentration was measured by ELISA in sandwich in 45 patients with CHC. Correlation between HGF levels and histological (necroinflammatory activity and fibrosis score) and biochemical (transaminases, prothrombin activity, albumin, bilirubin), or virological (hepatitis C virus load) parameters was analyzed. Serum HGF concentration was also studied in a subgroup of the original sample treated with interferon and ribavirin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sserum HGF concentrations of patients with CHC were significantly higher than those detected in healthy controls. Patients with significant fibrosis (F > or = 2) had a significantly older age, lower count of platelets and higher values of AST, GGT and HGF, than those patients with a fibrosis score F < 2. HGF concentration was identified by multivariate analysis as the only independent factor associated with significant fibrosis. Moreover, area under receiver operating curve, using HCG levels, showed similar values to those of previously validated non-invasive indexes of fibrosis. However, levels of HGF did not show a significant decrease in patients with a sustained response to anti-virus C therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum HGF concentration correlates with fibrosis score in patients with CHC, but is insensitive to monitor changes induced by anti-virus C therapy.
authors.affiliation: Service of Digestive Diseases, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, Spain. evamarins@hotmail.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marín-Serrano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Ramos
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Díaz-García
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martín-Herrera
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández-Gutiérrez-Del-Alamo
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Girón-González
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor