Immunochemical identification and detection of serum fibronectin in liver fibrosis patients with chronic hepatitis C

Serum tests measuring the dynamic processes of fibrogenesis and fibrolysis may reflect the severity of liver disease. Fibronectin plays a role in liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of fibronectin in chronic HCV infection among Egyptian patients. Fibronectin was identified using specific monoclonal antibody and Western blot at 90-kDa in sera of HCV infected patients with liver fibrosis. The purified serum fibronectin showed one peak at 8 min when analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis. Fibronectin was quantified in serum using ELISA. The mean (+/-SD) serum level of fibronectin (mg/L) in liver fibrosis patients were 450.9 (+/-170.3) and 230.5 (+/-90.3) in control individuals, respectively. There was a significant correlation between METAVIR score and serum fibronectin (r=0.401; P<0.0001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of fibronectin for discriminating patients with liver fibrosis from those with no fibrosis livers and its p value were 0.78 and P<0.0001. The efficiency of fibronectin for discriminating patients with liver fibrosis from those with non fibrosis livers was 75%. In conclusion, serum fibronectin can differentiate HCV infected patients with liver fibrosis from patients with non fibrosis.