Serum levels of 7S collagen as a tool of detection for early stage as well as irreversible stage of hepatic fibrosis in patients with alcoholic liver disease

Abstract

Serum 7S collagen was measured in 112 patients with various alcoholic liver diseases by using RIA kits (7S-RIA: Japan DPC Corporation). The serum levels of 7S collagen were significantly high in all types of alcoholic liver diseases compared to that in healthy controls. Liver cirrhosis showed significantly high value of serum 7S collagen compared to those of all other types of alcoholic liver diseases. Frequent rate of abnormal high value even in early stages of hepatic fibrosis was observed in serum 7S collagen. Among various blood tests including type III procollagen peptide, laminin and type IV collagen using EIA, 7S-RIA showed most significant correlation with the degree of hepatic fibrosis. The patients with nodular formation showed significantly high value of serum 7S collagen compared to those without nodular formation. Among various blood tests, 7S collagen except prothrombin time could most clearly differentiate two groups with or without nodular formation.
Measurement of serum 7S collegen may be useful test for the early detection as well as irrevesible stage of hepatic fibrosis in the patients with alcoholic liver diseases.