Clinical significance of measurement of PIIIP, laminin P1, type IV-C and 7S in patients with chronic liver diseases--with special reference to histological findings]

Four markers for hepatic fibrosis--N-terminal peptide of Type III procollagen (PIIIP), Laminin P1 (laminin), Type IV collagen (Type IV-C), and 7S domain (7S)--were measured in the sera of 90 patients with various chronic liver diseases diagnosed by liver biopsy--fatty liver (FL), chronic inactive hepatitis (CIH), chronic active hepatitis (CAH), and liver cirrhosis (LC)--and in the sera of 20 healthy controls. The values of markers were compared with the grade of histologic findings of the liver. Four markers were significantly raised in the CAH group and the LC group, and they were considered to be indicators of hepatic fibrosis. PIIIP reflected necrosis and inflammation as well as fibrosis of the liver. Laminin, Type IV-C, and 7S reflected severe fibrosis. 7S was considered to be useful marker for liver cirrhosis.