Prediction of Hepatic Fibrosis Using Serum Hyaluronic Acid in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease.
- Author:
Chang Wook KIM
1
;
Seung Kew YOON
;
Byung Sik JO
;
Ju Yeop SHIN
;
Jeong Won JANG
;
Jong Young CHOI
;
Nam Ik HAN
;
Chang Don LEE
;
Kyu Won CHUNG
;
Hee Sik SUN
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. yoonsk@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; English Abstract
- Keywords:
Hyaluronic acid;
Hepatic fibrosis;
Chronic liver disease;
Graft rejection
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Adult;
Aged;
Biological Markers/blood;
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/complications;
Chronic Disease;
Female;
Graft Rejection/diagnosis;
Hepatitis/complications;
Humans;
Hyaluronic Acid/*blood;
Liver/pathology;
Liver Cirrhosis/complications/*diagnosis/pathology;
Liver Neoplasms/complications;
Liver Transplantation;
Male;
Middle Aged
- From:The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology
2003;42(6):510-518
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The extent of hepatic fibrosis is important in chronic liver disease. Liver biopsy is essential for diagnosis of fibrosis. However, biopsy is invasive and may not represent the whole liver state. Serum hyaluronic acid (HA), a major component of connective tissues, was introduced as a useful non-invasive index of hepatic fibrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship among HA, the degree of fibrosis, several hematologic and biochemical parameters in patients with chronic liver diseases or post state liver transplantation (PSLT). METHODS: Total 102 cases were divided into 4 groups: 57 chronic hepatitis (CH), 12 cirrhosis, 21 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 12 PSLT. HA was measured by enzyme-linked binding protein assay and evaluated in relation the degree of fibrosis, several hematologic and biochemical parameters. RESULTS: Among four groups, HCC showed the highest HA and HA of HCC significantly higher than that of CH. The degree of fibrosis were correlated with HA. HA was correlated with age, platelet count and albumin but, not with ALT and PT. There is no significant relation between HA and the presence of acute rejection in liver transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: In chronic liver diseases, HA is a useful non-invasive index of hepatic fibrosis and disease severity.