Usefulness of Serum Type IV Collagen Concentration in Patients with Alcoholic Liver Diseases

Park, Chul Hee; Yim, Hae Seang; Chung, Yoo Sun; Rhim, Chang Jae; Kang, Seung Sik; Chang, Woong Ki; Kwak, Sang Taek; Kae, Sea Hyub; Lee, Jin; Joo, Sang Aun

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Serun type IV collagen (IV-C) is known to be related to hepatic fibrosis. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of IV-C measurement as an index of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic liver diseases, especially chronic alcoholic liver diseases.
METHODS
The IV-C was measured in 16 cases of chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) B, 16 cases of chronic active hepatitis (CAH) B, 18 cases of hepatitis B associated liver cirrhosis, 12 cases of alcoholic hepatitis, 18 cases of alcoholic cirrhosis, and 16 normal controls. The concentration of IV-C was determined by one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay.
RESULTS
The concentration of IV-C in vira cirrhosis group (356.4 +/-96.1 ng/mL) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that in the CPH group (121.1 +/-47.4 ng/mL), the CAH group (141.5 +/-75.5 ng/mL) and normal controls (90.1 +/-13.7 ng/mL) The concentration of IV-C in alcoholic cirrhosis group (956.6 +/-334.5 ng/mL) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that in alcoholic hepatitis group (147.5 +/-55.5 ng/mL) and normal controls (90.1 +/-13.7 ng/mL). The concentration of IV-C in alcoholic liver disease group (632.9 +/-478.8 ng/mL) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that in chronic viral liver disease group (212.4 +/-132.8 ng/mL). The concentration of IV-C in alcoholic cirrhosis group (956.6 +/-334.5 ng/mL) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that in viral cirrhosis group (356.4 +/-96.1 ng/mL).
CONCLUSIONS
The IV-C level was no a sensitive index for degree of fibrosis progression in chronic viral liver disease. However, we sug gest that it can be a crude marker in monitoring cirrhotic change in chronic hepatitis, especially in alcoholic hepatitis.