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Robert Flisiak, Danuta Prokopowicz
Transforming Growth Factor-?1 as a Surrogate Marker of Hepatic Dysfunction in Chronic Liver Diseases
The aim of the study was to evaluate the possible association between plasma concentrations of transforming growth factor-?1 (TGF-?1) and the degree of hepatic dysfunction in patients with chronic liver diseases. TGF-?1 was measured with an enzyme immunoassay in plasma from 21 patients with chronic active hepatitis and 40 patients with liver cirrhosis. Normal values were obtained from a group of 13 healthy volunteers. Results were analysed with respect to aetiology and the degree of liver insufficiency as evaluated by the Child-Pugh classification. The mean plasma concentration of TGF-?1in patients 36.9±2.8 ng/ml) was twice that found in normal volunteers (18.3±1.6 ng/ml). The highest values were observed in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (44.4±4.7 ng/ml). Plasma TGF-?1 showed a statistically significant positive correlation with the degree of liver insufficiency. These results indicate the possible use of plasma TGF-?1 measurement as a good marker of liver function impairment. Further observation of patients involved in this study may help to evaluate its possible prognostic value in chronic liver diseases.
Clinical Chemical Laboratory Medicine, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1434-6621
Volume: 38, 11/2000
Pages: 1129 - 1131