SERUM MARKERS OF FIBROGENESIS IN CIRRHOTI C-PATIENTS

Background: An evaluation of serologic markers of hepatic fibrogenesis has been reported in liver diseases of different ethiologies. Among t hese, the N-terminal type III procollagen (P-III-P) and the P1 proteol itic fragment of laminin (P1 laminin) increase in alcoholic liver dama ge, in proportion to the progression of this condition. Aim: to study serum levels of P-III-P and P1 laminin in asymptomatic alcoholic with and without liver damage and decompensated alcoholic cirrhotics, compa red to normal controls. Methods: Serum P-III-P and laminin levels were measured in asymptomatic alcoholics during detoxification treatment. Liver biopsies were obtained, in order to detect liver damage, which w as graded with a numeric score, considering values over 6 as severe da mage. Serum fibrogenesis markers were also measured in a group of deco mpensated alcoholic cirrhotics. Results: P-III-P levels were significa ntly higher in cirrhotic patients compared to alcoholics with or witho ut liver damage and to normal controls. Laminin was not different betw een groups. P-II-P did not correlate with histologic score in asymptom atic patients. Conclusions: in this study P-III-P and P1 laminin were not useful discriminators of severe liver damage among asymptomatic al coholics; their levels were found to rise significantly only when live r disease has become clinically evident.