ASSESSMENT OF THE FIBROGENETIC ACTIVITY IN CHRONIC-PANCREATITIS - THEROLE OF CIRCULATING LEVELS OF EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX COMPONENTS

Determination of circulating levels of extracellular matrix components has been proposed as a reliable method to assess the activity of fibr ogenetic processes. Therefore, we aimed to analyze circulating levels of laminin, fibronectin, and procollagen III peptide (PIIIP) in patien ts with chronic pancreatitis (CP) and to correlate them with the morph ological and functional stage, and duration of the disease. Thirty pat ients with CP and 18 healthy controls were studied. Serum PIIIP concen trations (RIA), but not fibronectin (RID) and laminin (RIA), were abno rmally high in 8 patients with CP. No correlation was found between ci rculating levels of extracellular matrix components and both functiona l and morphological stage and duration of CP. Nevertheless, patients w ith elevated serum PIIIP levels tend to have a more advanced CP (morph ological and functional changes) than those with normal levels after a similar duration of the disease. We hypothesize that whereas function al and morphological findings reflect the cumulative effect of chronic inflammation on the pancreas, serum PIIIP concentrations would reflec t the activity of the fibrogenetic process within the gland at the tim e of sampling. The results shown in the present study may be considere d a starting point for longitudinal studies that examine the relations hip between serum PIIIP or other markers for fibrogenetic activity and evolution of CP.