联合检测血清层粘蛋白、透明质酸、丙二醛及超氧化物歧化酶在肝病中的临床意义

联合检测肝病血清层粘蛋白(LN)、透明质酸(HA)、丙二醛(MDA)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)，并探讨其临床意义。采用放射免疫法和硫代巴比妥酸比色法检测肝病患者和正常对照组LN、HA、MDA和SOD含量的变化。肝硬化(LC)患者按Child-Pugh分级标准将肝功能分为A、B、C三级，其中18例行电子胃镜检查食道静脉曲张程度。急性肝炎(AH)组HA含量高于正常对照组(P＜0．001)差异显著，而LN变化不显著(P＞0．05)。慢性肝炎(CH)及肝硬化组HA、LN含量均明显高于对照组(P＜0．001)。LC组血清LN水平与食道静脉曲张程度呈正相关(r＝0．65，P＜0．01)。四项血清指标与肝硬化Child-Pugh分级的关系相一致。AH组MDA高于正常对照组(P＜0．01)，SOD低于正常对照组(P＜0．01)。CH组及比组MDA显著高于对照组(P＜0．002)，但SOD含量与正常对照组比较差异无显著性(P＞0．05)，LN、HA、MDA和SOD四项联合检测诊断LC的敏感性、特异性和诊断率分别为97．12％、97．32％、97．22％。四项联合检测是判断肝病损伤程度、病情发展、指导LC肝功能分级和诊断肝纤维化的良好的综合指标。     

血清可溶性IL-2受体测定在急慢性肝脏疾病中的意义

目的 探讨急慢性肝病可溶性白介素2受体的改变,为诊断病情演变和预后判定寻找可靠的依据。 方法 健康对照(n=30)研究,采用夹心酶联免疫吸附法测定173例各型肝病患者血清IL-2受体(sIL-2R)水平,包括急性病毒性肝炎80例,慢性乙型肝炎21例,肝炎后肝硬化35例和原发性肝癌37例,并对测定结果进行分析。 结果 各组患者血清sIL-2R均明显高于对照组(P<0.01),其中急性病毒性肝炎黄疸期血清sIL-2R明显高于恢复期(P<0.01),各型急性肝炎之间血清sIL-2R无显著差异(P>0.05);急性肝炎组明显高于慢性肝炎组(P<0.01);慢性乙型肝炎ALT异常组血清sIL-2R明显高于ALT正常组(P<0.01);Child's C级肝炎后肝硬化者明显高于CHild'B,A级者(P<0.01);原发性肝癌者血清sIL-2R水平与肿瘤体积大小有关(P<0.05)。 结论 急慢性肝病患者血清sIL-2R水平均明显增高,其水平的高低在一定程度上反映了机体免疫功能状态和肝细胞损伤的程度。     

不同肝病患者血清前白蛋白和白蛋白的检测及意义

测定165例不同肝病患者和38例健康者血清前白蛋白、白蛋白、总蛋白水平,以及23例慢性肝炎、20例肝硬化患者治疗前后血清前白蛋白水平的变化.发现各肝病组血清前白蛋白均明显低于正常对照组;HBsAg携带者组血清白蛋白无明显改变,其他肝病组与正常对照组比较差异显著.肝硬化、肝癌患者血清总蛋白明显低于对照组;慢性肝炎组与肝硬化组治疗前后血清前白蛋白水平差异显著;慢性肝炎组、肝硬化组、肝癌组血清前白蛋白与白蛋白水平变化呈正相关关系.提示血清前白蛋白能灵敏地反映肝功能损害并有助于判断肝病的病情及预后.     

血清TBA、CHE及PA联合检测在不同类型肝病诊断中的应用

目的探讨血清总胆汁酸(TBA)、胆碱酯酶(CHE)及前白蛋白(PA)在不同类型肝病诊断中的应用。方法检测25例健康对照者和134例不同类型肝病患者的血清TBA、CHE及PAB等指标,并对结果进行分析。结果与对照组相比,除慢性肝炎轻度组外,其他各组血清TBA水平均显著高于正常对照(P<0.01),且以急性肝炎最高;与对照组相比,急性肝炎组、慢性肝炎轻度组和肝癌组的血清CHE水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);慢性肝炎中、重度组以及肝硬化组血清CHE水平明显降低(P<0.01);与对照组比较,除急性肝炎和慢性肝炎轻度组,其他各组血清PA水平差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论 TBA、CHE和PA在不同类型肝病诊断中具有一定的实用价值。     

不稳定型心绞痛患者体内凝血因子Ⅰ的变化及意义

目的:探讨凝血因子Ⅰ(Fg)在不稳定型心绞痛(UA)发生、发展中的作用,以及与氧化应激的相关性。方法:冠心病(CHD)患者68例,包括稳定型心绞痛(SA)患者(SA组)20例,UA患者(UA组)48例,正常人(对照组)20例,分别测定血清Fg含量以及丙二醛(MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)含量,同时分析Fg与MDA以及SOD之间的相关性。结果:UA组血清Fg含量均显著高于SA组和对照组(均P<0·01〉,而SA组患者与对照组相比差异无统计学意义(P>0·05)。CHD患者血清Fg水平与MDA水平呈明显正相关(P<0·01),而与SOD水平呈明显负相关(P<0·01)。结论:UA患者体内Fg含量明显升高,提示其病理机制与冠状动脉内血栓形成有关,而氧化应激可能是其主要影响因素之一。     

慢性乙型肝炎患者血清铁、铁蛋白水平与脂质过氧化损伤的关系

目的 探讨慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)患者血清铁(SI)、铁蛋白(SF)水平与脂质过氧化损伤的关系.方法 选择79例CHB患者,用比色法测SI、放射免疫法测SF、硫代巴比妥酸法测丙二醛(MDA)、黄嘌呤氧化酶法测超氧化物歧化酶(SOD).结果 各组CHB患者SI、SF和MDA水平均高于对照组(P<0.05～0.01),SOD水平均低于对照组(P<0.01).79例CHB患者SI、FE水平与MDA水平均正相关(r=0.493,P<0.01;r=0.745,P<0.01);SI水平与SOD水平负相关(r=-0.27,P<0.05).结论 CHB患者SI、SF水平与脂质过氧化损伤有相关性,过重的铁负荷协同乙肝病毒加重肝损伤.     

2型糖尿病肾病患者血清内脂素水平的变化及其与氧化应激的关系

目的观察2型糖尿病肾病(T2DN)患者血清内脂素水平的变化及其与氧化应激的关系。方法分别测定30例正常对照组(NC组)、单纯2型糖尿病(T2DM组)、T2DN组患者血清内脂素、丙二醛(MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)的水平。结果 T2DM组血清内脂素和MDA明显高于NC组(均P<0.01),T2DN组血清内脂素和MDA明显高于T2DM组(均P<0.01)。T2DN组血清SOD和CAT明显低于T2DM组(P<0.01),T2DN患者血清内脂素与体质指数(BMI)、空腹血糖(FPG)、糖化血红蛋白(Hb A1c)、HOMA-IR、甘油三酯(TG)和MDA呈明显正相关(r=0.418,r=0.475,r=0.359,r=0.427,r=0.518,r=0.522,均P<0.01),与SOD和CAT呈明显负相关(r=-0.583,r=-0.469,均P<0.01)。结论T2DN患者血清内脂素水平升高,同时存在氧化应激,内脂素与氧化应激相互作用和相互影响,共同参与T2DN的发生发展。     

肺结核合并低氧血症或呼吸衰竭患者氧化/抗氧化特点的观察

目的 观察肺结核合并低氧血症或呼吸衰竭患者氧化/抗氧化的特点.方法 采用比色法对20名正常对照者和120例肺结核患者血清超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)、丙二醛(MDA)进行测定.结果 ①与正常对照者相比,氧合正常的肺结核患者血清SOD、GPX降低(P<0.01,P<0.05),MDA增加(P<0.01).②与氧合正常的肺结核患者相比,合并低氧血症或呼吸衰竭患者的SOD、GPX降低(P<0.01),MDA差异无统计学意义;此外,呼吸衰竭组SOD、GPX和MDA与低氧血症组的差异无统计学意义.③I型和II型呼吸衰竭组SOD、GPX和MDA差异无统计学意义.④当肺结核患者SOD测定值低于x-2s、GPX测定值低于.Z-s、MDA测定值高于x-+2s时,低氧血症或呼吸衰竭的发生率分别为62%(P<0.01)、64%(P<0.01)和59%(P-0.05).logistic回归分析显示GPX降低与低氧血症或呼吸衰竭的发生最为密切相关(P<0.01).结论 血清抗氧化酶活性降低、氧化代谢产物增高是肺结核合并低氧血症或呼吸衰竭患者氧化/抗氧化的特点,而且是导致此合并症的重要机制之一.     

慢性肝病患者血清MMP-1及TIMP-1的检测及临床意义

目的研究基质金属蛋白酶-1(MMP-1)和基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子-1(TIMP-1)在慢性肝病患者肝纤维化过程中的表达和动态变化。方法采用双抗体"夹芯"酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)法检测64例慢性乙型肝炎和22例乙型肝炎肝硬化患者血清MMP-1和TIMP-1水平,并与20例正常体检者进行对照。结果血清MMP-1水平在慢性肝病患者肝纤维化过程中逐渐降低,而血清TIMP-1水平则逐渐增高,与正常对照组比较有显著性差异(P<0.01);其中慢性肝炎轻度患者血清MMP-1水平与中度、重度和肝硬化之间,中度与重度和肝硬化之间两两比较有显著性差异(P<0.05或P<0.01),而慢性肝炎重度与肝硬化之间比较无显著性相差(P>0.05);慢性肝炎轻度患者血清TIMP1水平与中度、重度和肝硬化之间,中度与重度和肝硬化之间,重度与肝硬化之间两两比较均有显著性差异(P<0.05或P<0.01)。结论血清MMP-1和TIMP-1在慢性肝病患者肝纤维化过程中可能起重要作用,能够被用来做为判断肝纤维化程度的指标,尤其是血清TIMP-1意义更大。     

急性脑梗死并发幽门螺旋杆菌感染者血脂水平及氧化应激反应的观察

目的通过检测急性脑梗死(ACI)并发幽门螺旋杆菌(Hp)感染者血清血脂、丙二醛(MDA)水平及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性,观察Hp感染对血脂水平及氧化应激反应的影响。方法选择ACI组200例(Hp感染139例,非Hp感染61例)和健康对照组80名,检测血清Hp-IgG抗体和14C尿素呼气试验(14C-UBT),检测血清血脂、MDA水平及SOD活性。结果 ACI组Hp感染率(69.5%)显著高于对照组(33.8%)(P0.01)。Hp感染组血清TC、TG、LDL-C显著高于Hp非感染组,而HDL-C水平显著低于Hp非感染组(均P0.01)。Hp感染组血清MDA水平高于Hp非感染组,而SOD活性低于Hp非感染组,差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。Hp非感染组血清MDA水平高于对照组,而SOD活性低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。结论ACI并发Hp感染者,机体内血脂代谢紊乱加剧及氧化应激反应增强,可能是Hp感染加剧ACI病情的原因之一。     

Serum neopterin levels in children with hepatitis-B-related chronic liver disease and its relationship to disease severity

AIM： To evaluate serum neopterin levels and their correlations with liver function tests and histological grade in children with hepatitis-B-related chronic liver disease. METHODS： The study population comprised 48 patients with chronic active hepatitis B, 32 patients with hepatitis-B-related active liver cirrhosis and 40 normal controls. Serum neopterin was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS： The mean ＋ SD serum neopterin levels were 14.2 ± 5.6 nmol/L in patients with chronic hepatitis, 20.3 ± 7.9 nmol/L in patients with liver cirrhosis and 5.2 ± 1.4 nmol/L in control group. Serum neopterin levels were significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis （P = 0.005） and cirrhosis patients （P = 0.008）, than in control subjects. Cirrhotic patients had significantly higher serum neopterin levels than patients with chronic hepatitis （P = 0.004）. There was a positive correlation between serum neopterin levels and alanine aminotransferase levels in patients with chronic hepatitis （r = 0.41, P = 0.004） and cirrhotic patients （r = 0.39, P = 0.005）. Positive correlations were detected between serum neopterin levels and inflammatory score in patients with chronic hepatitis （r = 0.51, P = 0.003） and cirrhotic patients （r = 0.49, P = 0.001）. CONCLUSION： Our results suggest that serum neopterin levels can be considered as a marker of inflammatory activity and severity of disease in children with hepatitis-B-related chronic liver disease.     

肝病患者血清肉碱水平的临床研究

目的观察肝病患者血清肉碱水平,探讨其临床意义,为肉碱治疗肝病提供依据。方法用酶循环法检测25例急性病毒性肝炎,34例慢性病毒性肝炎,22例肾功能正常及9例肾功能异常的肝炎后肝硬化患者血清游离肉碱水平,并分别与40名正常人的检测值比较。结果血清游离肉碱:正常人为(48．3±10．2)μmol／L;急性病毒性肝炎患者为(35．2±13．2)μmol／L,明显低于正常对照组,P=0．000。慢性病毒性肝炎患者为(36．5±9．9) μmol／L,明显低于正常对照组,P=0．000。肾功能正常的肝炎后肝硬化患者为(45．0±11．0)μmol／L,比正常对照组略有下降,但差异无统计学意义,P=0．232。肾功能异常的肝炎后肝硬化患者为(83．6±50.4)μmol／L,比正常对照组升高,但差异无统计学意义,P=0．069。结论肝病患者可发生肉碱代谢异常,肝脏疾病是导致继发性肉碱缺乏的原因之一。     

Clinical evaluation of serum levels of monomeric dimeric and tetrameric pseudocholinesterases in patients with various liver diseases]

Serum levels of monomeric, dimeric and tetrameric pseudocholinesterases were measured by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in patients with various liver diseases and normal controls in order to evaluate their clinical significance. In patients with liver cirrhosis, serum levels of monomeric, dimeric and tetrameric were significantly lower than those in normal controls, patients with fatty liver and chronic hepatitis. The ratio of monomeric and dimeric to tetrameric in patients with liver cirrhosis was also significantly lower than that in normal controls, patients with fatty liver and chronic hepatitis. Serum levels of tetrameric, dimeric and monomeric were not significantly higher in the patients with fatty liver than in normal controls, but the ratio of monomeric and dimeric to tetrameric was significantly higher in patients with fatty liver than that in normal controls, patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. These findings suggest that the selective determinations of serum levels of monomeric, dimeric and tetrameric pseudocholinesterases are useful to estimate the metabolism of fat and protein in various liver diseases.     

Serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) in chronic hepatitis C. A comparison with non-cirrhotic alcoholic liver disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Serum immunoglobulin concentrations are commonly elevated in patients with liver cirrhosis. Immunoglobulin class increase may vary depending on the cause of liver disease. Hepatitis C virus is, together with alcohol, a leading cause of chronic liver disease. The present study aimed to evaluate serum IgG, IgA and IgM levels in chronic hepatitis C. Results were compared with those of patients with non-cirrhotic alcoholic liver disease and healthy controls. Special attention was given to cases with minimal liver disease, as an approach to evaluate if the causing agent, independently of liver damage, influences serum immunoglobulin levels. METHODOLOGY: A total of 274 patients with histologically-proven chronic hepatitis C, 121 alcoholics with non-cirrhotic liver disease (steatosis or alcoholic hepatitis), and 75 healthy controls were studied. Serum IgG, IgA, and IgM were assayed by nephelometry. RESULTS: Serum IgG was increased in patients with chronic hepatitis C with respect to both alcoholics (p < 0.001) and healthy controls (p < 0.001). IgG levels were similar in alcoholics and in controls. IgA was increased in patients with non-cirrhotic alcoholic liver disease with respect to both chronic hepatitis C patients (p < 0.001) and controls (p < 0.001). IgA values were similar in subjects with chronic hepatitis C and controls. Selective IgG or IgA alteration was present in cases with minimal liver disease (chronic hepatitis C with a Knodell index equal or lower than 3, and alcoholics with liver steatosis, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis C virus and alcohol are linked to a selective increase of serum IgG and IgA, respectively, even in cases with mild or minimal liver disease.     

Serum thyroglobulin in acute and chronic liver disease

In view of the widespread use of serum thyroglobulin determination in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma, the influence of acute and chronic liver disease on serum thyroglobulin concentration was investigated in thirty-seven consecutive patients with histologically proven alcoholic liver cirrhosis and twenty-three patients with acute non-alcoholic hepatitis. Seventy-four healthy volunteers served as controls. Serum thyroglobulin concentration was significantly elevated in cirrhosis: median 29.5 micrograms/l, (range 4.3-94.0 micrograms/l) compared to controls: median 16.0 micrograms/l, (range 4.8-89.6 micrograms/l), (P less than 0.001). Serum thyroglobulin concentration in patients with acute hepatitis: median 16.2 micrograms/l, (range 7.9-70.0 micrograms/l) was not significantly different from controls. The level of free-T3-index was significantly reduced and the level of free-T4-index was significantly elevated in both cirrhosis and hepatitis compared to controls. Serum TSH concentration was significantly elevated in cirrhosis compared to hepatitis and controls. Serum thyroglobulin levels were positively correlated to levels of free-T3-index (r = 0.35, P less than 0.05) and T3/T4-ratio (r = 0.40, P less than 0.05) but not to levels of serum TSH or free-T4-index or any of the liver function tests in any of the groups. In conclusion, our results do not clearly indicate whether the elevated serum thyroglobulin level in cirrhosis was caused by an impaired elimination and/or an increased secretion from the thyroid gland. The increase in serum thyroglobulin concentration in chronic alcoholic liver disease was not of a magnitude likely to cause misinterpretation of results obtained during the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.     

Serum leptin levels in patients with viral chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND/AIM: Serum levels of leptin, the adipocyte-derived hormone regulating food intake and energy expenditure in mammals, have been found to be increased in cirrhotic patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate leptin serum level in relation to anthropometric features and liver function in patients with viral chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis. METHODS: Serum leptin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay in 30 male and 10 female patients with chronic hepatitis, in 42 male and 10 female patients with liver cirrhosis, and in four respective control groups. Liver function was evaluated by the monoethylglycinexylidide formation test. Body mass index and body fat mass were estimated by weight, height and skinfold thickness measurements. RESULTS: Compared with controls, absolute serum leptin levels were significantly (p<0.01) lower in chronic hepatitis patients and similar in cirrhotic patients. Leptin serum levels were significantly (p<0.05) higher in cirrhotic than in chronic hepatitis patients. When expressed in relation to body fat mass, the above differences persisted; however, cirrhotic females showed significantly (p<0.05) higher serum leptin values than controls. Serum leptin values correlated negatively (p<0.01) with monoethylglycinexylidide serum values in all groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic viral liver disease, serum leptin levels tend to increase as liver function worsens. This may reflect a decline in the ability to downregulate energy expenditure as an adaptation to anorexia and/or to defective substrate utilisation due to liver disease and may negatively influence body weight homeostasis in these patients.     

Pharmacokinetics of roxatidine acetate in patients with chronic liver disease

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Patients with liver disease are prone to develop peptic ulceration and often receive H(2)-receptor antagonists. Therefore, it is important to clarify whether the pharmacokinetics of H(2)-receptor antagonists is affected by hepatic function. However, pharmacokinetics of a new H(2)-receptor antagonist, roxatidine acetate, in chronic liver disease has not been well known. In this study, we analyzed the pharmacokinetics of roxatidine in patients with liver disease. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 11 patients with chronic hepatitis, 11 patients with cirrhosis and six healthy subjects. Under fasting conditions, 75 mg of roxatidine acetate was administered orally, and plasma roxatidine levels were determined sequentially from 3 to 12 h. Relationships between pharmacokinetic variables and each parameter related to hepatic functions were also investigated. RESULTS: There was no difference in the pharmacokinetic variables and serum levels of roxatidine between chronic hepatitis and healthy controls. In contrast, in cirrhosis, serum roxatidine levels were significantly higher than those in chronic hepatitis and normal control. Half-life, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve and clearance in cirrhosis were also significantly longer, bigger and smaller than those in chronic hepatitis and healthy controls, respectively. The half-life became longer and the clearance became smaller in parallel with the progression of liver disease. Serum levels of hyaluronate and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase showed a good correlation with half-life, clearance and elimination rate. A good correlation between creatinine clearance and elimination rate was found. CONCLUSION: Pharmacokinetics of roxatidine acetate is affected by hepatic function, and the dosage of roxatidine acetate for patients with liver disease, especially cirrhosis, should be modified.     

Clinical Significance of Serum and Urinary Neopterin Levels in Patients with Various Liver Diseases

Serum and urinary neopterin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 120 healthy controls, 16 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers, 12 patients with acute hepatitis, 13 with chronic inactive hepatitis, 35 with chronic active hepatitis, 46 with liver cirrhosis, 18 with hepatocellular carcinoma, and 6 with alcoholic liver disease. Serum and urinary neopterin levels were significantly higher in almost all patients than in normal subjects. Neopterin levels were highest in acute hepatitis and correlated with the results of liver function tests, but did not show this correlation in chronic liver disease. In chronic liver disease, the levels of serum neopterin in non-A non-B viral patients was significantly increased, compared with those in B viral and alcoholic patients. The rate of abnormal urinary neopterin levels in chronic liver disease was higher than the rate of abnormal serum neopterin levels, but no difference was observed between the rates of abnormal serum and urinary levels in acute hepatitis and asymptomatic HBsAg carriers. These results indicate that serum and urinary neopterin levels may be useful markers for cell-mediated immunity in liver disease, and that the immune system response in chronic liver disease may be different for different pathogens.     

Serum thrombopoietin levels in patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis,and its relationship with circulating thrombocyte counts

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Thrombocytopenia in chronic liver diseases may be related to deficient production of thrombopoietin. The aim of this study was to measure serum thrombopoietin levels and to examine the relationship between serum thrombopoietin concentration, circulating platelet counts and clinical stage of the disease in patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. METHODOLOGY: The study included 18 patients with chronic hepatitis, 48 with liver cirrhosis and 27 healthy volunteers. Serum thrombopoietin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Additionally, serum albumin levels, prothrombin time, circulating platelet counts and spleen volume index were determined. RESULTS: Mean serum thrombopoietin level (100.96 +/- 41.67 pg/mL) in the chronic hepatitis group was similar to that of the healthy group (97.60 +/- 43.99 pg/mL), however serum thrombopoietin levels in patients with liver cirrhosis (69.60 +/- 30.23 pg/mL) were lower than patients with chronic hepatitis and controls (p < 0.05 for both). In patients with liver cirrhosis, serum thrombopoietin levels were found to be decreased as the disease progressed (80.99 +/- 24.85 pg/mL in patients at Child-Pugh stage A, 67.92 +/- 39.37 in patients at stage B and 57.62 +/- 21.09 pg/mL in patients at stage C). Cirrhotic patients had increased prothrombin time (17.12 +/- 3.52 sec) and spleen volume index (94.38 +/- 26.48 cm2), and decreased serum albumin level (3.11 +/- 0.56 g/dL) and platelet counts (102,368 +/- 30,653/mm3) when compared to both chronic hepatitis and control groups. Thrombocytopenia was found in 31 (65%) of the patients with liver cirrhosis. In patients with liver cirrhosis, while there was a positive correlation between serum thrombopoietin and albumin levels (r = 0.36, p = 0.004), no correlation was found between platelet counts and serum thrombopoietin level, and spleen volume index. CONCLUSIONS: The findings reveal that serum thrombopoietin levels are normal in patients with chronic hepatitis, but in patients with liver cirrhosis, serum thrombopoietin levels decrease, as degree of cirrhosis progresses. The impaired production of thrombopoietin may contribute to the development of thrombocytopenia in advanced stage of liver disease.     

Serum concentrations of the carboxyterminal cross-linking domain of procollagen type IV (NC1) and the aminoterminal propeptide of procollagen type III (PIIIP) in chronic liver disease

Serum concentrations of both the carboxyterminal cross-linking domain (NC1) of procollagen type IV and the aminoterminal propeptide of procollagen type III (PIIIP) were measured by specific radioimmunoassays in 60 patients with chronic liver disease and 50 healthy controls. Compared with controls (5.3 +/- 1.3 ng/ml, mean +/- S.D.), NC1 concentrations were significantly elevated in patients with chronic active hepatitis (10.2 +/- 2.0 ng/ml) and liver cirrhosis (13.5 +/- 3.0 ng/ml), but not in chronic persistent hepatitis (6.0 +/- 0.9 ng/ml). The concentrations in patients with active liver cirrhosis were significantly higher than those in patients with inactive cirrhosis. Serum concentrations of PIIIP in controls, parients with chronic persistent hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis were 5.8 (4.3-7.9), 5.3 (3.5-7.9), 17.5 (10.6-28.9), 16.7 (10.4-26.7) ng/ml, respectively (logarithmic mean and range of mean +/- S.D. after retransformation). Patients with liver cirrhosis had significantly higher concentrations of NC1 in serum than those with chronic active hepatitis, but there was no difference in serum PIIIP concentrations between the two groups. These data suggest an alteration of type IV collagen metabolism in chronic liver disease. In liver cirrhosis, the metabolism of collagen IV is apparently different from that of collagen type III; serum NC1 determinations may therefore provide additional information on chronic liver disease, particularly in patients with cirrhosis with a normal level of serum PIIIP. Further follow-up studies as well as investigations related to the basic mechanism of the elevation of these peptides in serum are needed in order to understand their clinical significance fully.