HEPATOCYTE PROLIFERATION AND SERUM HEPATOCYTE GROWTH-FACTOR LEVELS INPATIENTS WITH ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS

Background/Methods: Hepatocyte growth factor is thought to be importan t in stimulating growth of the liver following injury. In this study w e have measured serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor together with hepatocyte proliferation in liver biopsies, by detection of the Ki-67 antigen, in 23 patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Results: Serum hepa tocyte growth factor was elevated in all patients (median 0.9 ng/ml; r ange 0.6-7.7 ng/ml; normal <0.5 ng/ml) and there was a positive correl ation between hepatocyte growth factor levels and hepatocyte prolifera tion in the biopsies. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that in a cute alcoholic hepatitis the liver proliferates in response to injury and suggest that hepatocyte growth factor may be one of the growth fac tors responsible for this proliferative activity.