SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF LAMININ IN CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER

Laminin, a glycoprotein synthesised by to cells, has been considered a marker of fibrogenesis. The behaviour of laminin and clinical and lab oratory data in 83 patients with cirrhosis were studied to find the fa ctors associated with increases in this glycoprotein. There were incre ased concentrations of laminin in 62.7% of the patients (40% of the Ch ild's A, 64.5% of the Child's B, and 75% of the Child's C categories). Significant differences in laminin concentrations were found between the Child's grades (p=0.009) and between patients and controls (p<0.00 01). Correlations were found between laminin concentrations and mean c orpuscular volume, aspartate aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransfer ase: alanine aminotransferase ratio, alkaline phosphatase activity, bi lirubin and glycocholic acid concentrations, and hypoalbuminaemia - th at is, variables related to liver insufficiency and alcohol intake. Mo reover, patients with an alcohol intake higher than 100 g/day had high er laminin concentrations than those with a lower intake (p=0.03). Con versely, there was no significant association with portal hypertension . Multivariate analysis showed that mean corpuscular volume, bilirubin concentrations, and hypoalbuminaemia were independently associated wi th laminin concentrations. Poor degradation associated with liver insu fficiency seems to play an important part in the increase in serum lam inin concentrations in these patients.