Study of serum procollagen type III peptide in patients with hepatic cirrhosis from a clinical point of view.

Abstract

N-terminal procollagen-III peptide (P-III-P) has been considered a marker of fibrogenesis and inflammatory activity of the liver. We measured the P-III-P serum levels in 83 cirrhotic patients fully characterized from a clinical and laboratory point of view. Cirrhotic patients had significantly higher P-III-P serum levels than controls (P < 0.0001). Of the cirrhotic patients 73.5% had increased P-III-P. A significant negative correlation was found between P-III-P and transaminases, and patients with normal values of alanine amino-transferase had higher P-III-P serum levels than those with increased values (P = 0.03). On the other hand, no significant association was found with portal hypertension, Child classes, or alcoholic liver disease. No one independent factor appears to be responsible for the increase in P-III-P. The measurement of serum P-III-P is of little if any use in the evaluation of cirrhotic patients.

• Authors: F Díaz, J Collazos, J Genollá
• Journal: The Clinical investigator (Clin Investig) Vol. 71 Issue 5 Pg. 416-8 (May 1993) ISSN: 0941-0198 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 8508013 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Procollagen

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Female
• Humans
• Liver Cirrhosis (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Procollagen (blood)