SERUM CARBOXY-TERMINAL PROPEPTIDE OF TYPE-I PROCOLLAGEN TO AMINO-TERMINAL PROPEPTIDE OF TYPE-III PROCOLLAGEN RATIO IS A BETTER INDICATOR THAN EACH SINGLE PROPEPTIDE AND 7S DOMAIN TYPE-IV COLLAGEN FOR PROGRESSIVE FIBROGENESIS IN CHRONIC VIRAL LIVER-DISEASES

Twenty chronic viral hepatitis patients, mainly with hepatitis B relat ed with progression to liver cirrhosis were included for an assay of s erum collagen markers: PICP (carboxy terminal propeptide of type I pro collagen), PIIINP (amino terminal propeptide of type III procollagen), and 7S-IV (7S-domain type IV collagen). PICP is increased in 20% of c hronic hepatitis patients with a mean of 190.3 ng/ml, which is not dif ferent from that of the follow-up concentration in liver cirrhosis, wh ere 35% of cases were abnormal with a mean of 220.5 ng/ml. The serum l evel and percent of abnormality of PIIICP in chronic hepatitis and in liver cirrhosis are 23.5 ng/ml vs 14.8 ng/ml and 90% vs 100%, respecti vely (P > 0.05). PICP/PIIINP is significantly higher during liver cirr hosis (15.11 vs 10.08, P < 0.05). PICP during chronic hepatitis is not related to serum biochemical changes, while PICP during liver cirrhos is and PIIINP are correlated with hepatic enzymes. 7S-IV in chronic he patitis and in liver cirrhosis is 14.0 ng/ml vs 10.9 ng/ml, respective ly; both were positively correlated with hepatic enzymes. These result s suggest that PICP/PIIINP is a better indicator of hepatic fibrogenes is than either PICP or PIIINP alone in viral hepatitis. A ratio of mor e than 12 is Suggestive of liver cirrhosis.