SERUM AMINOTERMINAL PROPEPTIDE OF TYPE-III PROCOLLAGEN (S-PIIINP) ANDHEPATOBILIARY DYSFUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH ULCERATIVE-COLITIS

The aim of the study was to estimate the usefulness of measuring the c irculating concentration of serum aminoterminal propeptide of type III collagen (S-PIIINP) in screening for hepatobiliary diseases in patien ts with ulcerative colitis. S-PIIINP was measured in 69 patients with ulcerative colitis and normal liver biochemistry, in 14 patients with ulcerative colitis and elevated catalytic concentration of alkaline ph osphatases in serum (S-ALP, EC 3.1.3.1) but without primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), iind in 20 patients with ulcerative colitis and PS C. The median S-PIIINP was 3.1 mu g l(-1) in patients with ulcerative colitis and normal liver biochemistry, 4.3 mu g l(-1) in patients with ulcerative colitis and hepatobiliary disorder other than PSC and 8.9 mu g l(-1) in those with ulcerative colitis and PSC. When the S-PIIINP cut-off level was set at 5.0 mu g l(-1), 1% of the patients with ulce rative colitis and normal liver biochemistry, 21% of those with hepato biliary disorder, not PSC, and 90% of the patients with PSC had S-PIII NP values above that concentration. Ln conclusion, S-PIIINP above 5.0 mu g l(-1) in a patient with ulcerative colitis strongly suggests conc omitant PSC.