[Biochemical markers of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis of viral origin].
OBJECTIVE: Usefulness of three selected extracellular matrix components as markers of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis and post inflammatory liver cirrhosis. METHODS: 91 patients with chronic HBV or HCV infection were divided into four groups; chronic hepatitis--group O; cirrhosis classes A, B and C (Child-Pugh classification)--groups A, B and C, respectively. The serum levels of: N-terminal peptide of type III procollagen (PIIIP), laminin (LP1) and hyaluronic acid (HA) in these patients were measured using commercial radioimmunological and radiometric tests. RESULTS: The mean values of the investigated markers increased in patients with cirrhosis according to the stage of the disease (thus group A showed the least level while the highest was exhibited in group C). Between all the groups: O, A, B and C, HA was the marker showing the greatest difference. The only marker with a greater mean level in group O than group A, was PIIIP. Substantially higher levels of the investigated markers were found in the patients with HCV than in those with HBV, but only within group A. CONCLUSIONS: 1) The values of the studied markers increased in various degree with the cirrhosis progress. 2) LP1 and HA measurements have particular value in the clinical estimation of cirrhotic advancement. 3) HA measurement may be helpful in differentiating between cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis. 4) The course of hepatic fibrosis may be influenced by the etiological factor as the values of the studied markers are higher in patients with HCV than in patients with HBV, in the early stage of cirrhosis.