ABSTRACT—The development of chronic viral liver disease is associated with increased deposition of connective tissue in the liver. The aminoterminal propeptide of procollagen type III (P‐III‐NP) is considered to reflect the metabolism of collagen type III, one of the major collagen types in liver fibrosis. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate, whether S‐P‐III‐NP in patients with viral hepatitis was related to injury and repair processes in the liver. S‐P‐III‐NP was determined in a prospective longitudinal study of 63 patients with acute viral hepatitis followed to healing or development of chronic liver disease. Two assays were applied. The P‐III‐NP Ria‐gnost assay, which measures mainly the intact propeptide, and the P‐III‐NP Fab‐assay, in which the antibody exhibits equal affinity to the intact propeptide as well as the degradation product col I. At the onset of viral hepatitis, S‐P‐III‐NP determined in either assay was equally elevated in the two groups. From the second month of follow‐up, significantly higher levels in both assays were observed in patients developing chronic disease. During follow‐up, the highest P‐III‐NP RIA‐gnost values were seen in patients with chronic active hepatitis, and active cirrhosis. S‐P‐III‐NP decreased towards normal levels during development of inactive cirrhosis. In the individual patient, S‐P‐III‐NP Ria‐gnost was positively related to transaminases. During follow‐up of uncomplicated hepatitis a normalization of transaminases occurred before normalization of S‐P‐III‐NP RIA‐gnost. Considering, that S‐P‐III‐NP, in contrast to the conventional laboratory variables, reflects the metabolism of type III collagen, it is assumed that determination of S
展开▼
