Summary
Sera from 64 patients with HBsAg-negative chronic liver disease with or without cirrhosis were investigated for aminoterminal peptide of type III procollagen (sP-III-P) as a suitable marker of hepatic fibrosis; 244 healthy control subjects were included in the study. A close correlation (p<0.01) between sP-III-P levels and histological activity was observed; on the contrary, no correlation was found between the same serum marker of liver fibroplasia and biochemical activity or clinical severity of the disease. We conclude that sP-III-P as a suitable marker of liver overload of collagen fibers is strongly correlated with the histological activity of the disease. Local immune reactions produce soluble substances that might stimulate fibroblastic activity. The test has a significant sensitivity and a very high specificity as a marker of chronic liver disease with histological activity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Annoni G., Cargnel A., Colombo M., Hahn E. G.: Persistent elevation of the aminoterminal peptide of procollagen type III in serum of patients with acute viral hepatitis distinguishes chronic active hepatitis from resolving or chronic persistent hepatitis — J. Hepatol.2, 379, 1986.
Bianchi L., De Groote J., Desmet V. J., Gedigk P., Korb G., Popper H., Poulsen H., Scheuer P. J., Schmid M., Thaler H., Wepler W.: Acute and chronic hepatitis revisited. Review by an International Group — Lancetii, 914, 1977.
Cochran W. G., Cox G. M. (Eds): Experimental Designs. 2nd ed. John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1957.
Colombo M., Annoni G., Donato M. F., Fargion S., Tiribelli C., Dioguardi N.: Serum marker of type III procollagen in patients with idiopathic hemochromatosis and its relationship to hepatic fibrosis — Amer. J. clin. Pathol.80, 180, 1983.
Czaja A. J., Wolf A. M., Baggenstoss A. H.: Clinical assessment of cirrhosis in severe chronic active liver disease. Specificity and sensitivity of physical and laboratory findings — Mayo Clin. Proc.55, 360, 1980.
De Groote J., Desmet V. J., Gedigk P., Korb G., Popper H., Poulsen H., Scheuer P. J., Schmid M., Thaler H., Uehlinger E., Wepler W.: A classification of chronic hepatitis — Lancetii, 626, 1968.
Eriksson S., Zettervall O.: The N-terminal propeptide of collagen type III in serum as a prognostic indicator in primary biliary cirrhosis — J. Hepatol.2, 370, 1986.
Fisher R. A. (Ed.): Statistical Methods for Research Workers. 13th ed. Hafner, New York, 1958.
Gressner A. M.: Measurement of connective tissue parameters in serum for diagnosis and follow-up of liver fibrosis — Ann. clin. Biochem.24, 283, 1987.
Griener P. F., Mayewski R. J., Mushlin A. I., Greenland P.: Selection and interpretation of diagnostic tests and procedures. Principles and applications — Ann. intern. Med.94, 553, 1981.
Hahn E. G.: Blood analysis for liver fibrosis — J. Hepatol.1, 67, 1985.
Hahn E. G., Martini G. A.: Clinical parameters of fibroplasia — Ital. J. Gastroenterol.12, 41, 1980.
Jimenez W., Pares A., Caballeria J., Heredia D., Bruguera M., Torres M., Rojkind M., Rodes J.: Measurement of fibrosis in needle liver biopsies: evaluation of a colorimetric method — Hepatology5, 815, 1985.
Leevy C. M., Popper H., Sherlock S. (Eds): Diseases of the Liver and Biliary Tract. Standardization of Nomenclature, Diagnostic Criteria and Diagnostic Methodology. Year Book Medical Publ., Inc., Chicago, 1976.
Niemelä O., Risteli L., Sotaniemi E. A., Risteli J.: Aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in serum in alcoholic liver disease — Gastroenterology85, 254, 1983.
Rohde H., Vargas L., Hahn E., Kalbfleisch H., Bruguera M., Timpl R.: Radioimmunoassay for type III procollagen peptide and its application to human liver disease — Europ. J. clin. Invest.9, 451, 1979.
Rojkind M., Dunn M. A.: Hepatic fibrosis — Gastroenterology76, 849, 1979.
Rojkind M., Giambrone M. A., Biempica L.: Collagen types in normal and cirrhotic liver — Gastroenterology76, 710, 1979.
Ruebner B. H.: Collagen formation and cirrhosis — Semin. Liver Dis.6, 212, 1986.
Sato S., Nouchi T., Worner T. M., Lieber C. S.: Liver fibrosis in alcoholics. Detection by Fab radioimmunoassay of serum procollagen III peptides — J. Amer. med. Ass.256, 1471, 1986.
Schneider M., Voss B., Högeman B., Eberhardt G., Gerlach U.: Evaluation of serum laminin P1, procollagen-III peptides and N-acetyl-beta-glucosidase for monitoring the activity of liver fibrosis — Hepato-gastroenterol.36, 506, 1989.
Schuppan D., Dumont J. M., Kim K. Y., Hennings G., Hahn E. G.: Serum concentration of the aminoterminal procollagen type III peptide in the rat reflects early formation of connective tissue in experimental liver cirrhosis — J. Hepatol.3, 27, 1986.
Tanaka Y., Minato Y., Hasumura Y., Takeuchi J.: Evaluation of hepatic fibrosis by serum proline and amino-terminal type III procollagen peptide levels in alcoholic patients — Dig. Dis. Sci.31, 712, 1986.
Wick G., Brunner H., Penner E., Timpl R.: The diagnostic application of specific antiprocollagen sera. II. Analysis of liver biopsies — Int. Arch. Allergy56, 316, 1978.
Yates F.: Contingency tables involving small numbers and the χ2 test — J. roy. statist. Soc.1 (Suppl.), 217, 1934.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Diodati, G., Bonetti, P., Plebani, M. et al. Cryptogenic chronic active liver disease. Evaluation of serum aminoterminal peptide of type III procollagen as a marker of histological activity. La Ricerca in Clin. Lab. 20, 253–259 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02900710
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02900710