Growth factor predicts cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C

[Guest guest]

Growth factor predicts cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C

12th December, 2001

J Viral Hep 2001;8(6):430-437

Medical investigators think transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta is a

reliable indicator for chronic hepatitis C patients at risk for liver

fibrosis.

Calling fibrotic progression highly variable and unpredictable in patients

infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), medical collaborators working at

research facilities in Germany believe TGF-beta just might fit the bill for

providing relevant information about liver disease in those patients.

Studying 39 patients with chronic hepatitis C, Ansgar W. Lohse and

colleagues, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany, tested the

patients' sera for TGF-beta levels while grading their liver biopsies for

the extent of fibrosis.

" Patients with no progression of fibrosis had significantly lower (59 ng/mL

± 22) TGF-beta serum levels than patients with progressive disease (115

ng/mL ± 20), and TGF-beta levels below 75 ng/mL was predictive for stable

disease, " Lohse and coworkers reported.

Low TGF-beta levels in serum were not the only significant findings. Liver

biopsies demonstrated TGF-beta could also be correlated with fibrotic

progression based on the results of tissue staining (Prediction of

progressive liver fibrosis in hepatitis C infection by serum and tissue

levels of transforming growth factor-beta, Journal of Viral Hepatitis,

November 2001;8(6):430-437).

The researchers' analyses also included tests for viral load, liver enzyme

levels, and procollagen III peptide, but these markers did not correlate

with fibrosis progression.

" These results further support the role of TGF-beta in liver fibrogenesis

and offer an opportunity to predict clinical progression, which may help in

selecting patients who are in need of therapeutic interventions, " Lohse and

coauthors indicated.

Key points reported in this study include:

a.. TGF-beta serum levels are lower in chronic hepatitis C patients

without fibrosis progression

b.. TGF-beta levels in liver biopsy tissue are lower in chronic hepatitis

C patients without fibrosis progression

c.. TGF-beta is an important marker for fibrosis progression in chronic

hepatitis C patients

©Copyright 2001, via NewsRx.com

[Guest guest]

Growth factor predicts cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C

12th December, 2001

J Viral Hep 2001;8(6):430-437

Medical investigators think transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta is a

reliable indicator for chronic hepatitis C patients at risk for liver

fibrosis.

Calling fibrotic progression highly variable and unpredictable in patients

infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), medical collaborators working at

research facilities in Germany believe TGF-beta just might fit the bill for

providing relevant information about liver disease in those patients.

Studying 39 patients with chronic hepatitis C, Ansgar W. Lohse and

colleagues, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany, tested the

patients' sera for TGF-beta levels while grading their liver biopsies for

the extent of fibrosis.

" Patients with no progression of fibrosis had significantly lower (59 ng/mL

± 22) TGF-beta serum levels than patients with progressive disease (115

ng/mL ± 20), and TGF-beta levels below 75 ng/mL was predictive for stable

disease, " Lohse and coworkers reported.

Low TGF-beta levels in serum were not the only significant findings. Liver

biopsies demonstrated TGF-beta could also be correlated with fibrotic

progression based on the results of tissue staining (Prediction of

progressive liver fibrosis in hepatitis C infection by serum and tissue

levels of transforming growth factor-beta, Journal of Viral Hepatitis,

November 2001;8(6):430-437).

The researchers' analyses also included tests for viral load, liver enzyme

levels, and procollagen III peptide, but these markers did not correlate

with fibrosis progression.

" These results further support the role of TGF-beta in liver fibrogenesis

and offer an opportunity to predict clinical progression, which may help in

selecting patients who are in need of therapeutic interventions, " Lohse and

coauthors indicated.

Key points reported in this study include:

a.. TGF-beta serum levels are lower in chronic hepatitis C patients

without fibrosis progression

b.. TGF-beta levels in liver biopsy tissue are lower in chronic hepatitis

C patients without fibrosis progression

c.. TGF-beta is an important marker for fibrosis progression in chronic

hepatitis C patients

©Copyright 2001, via NewsRx.com