Measurement of serum human hepatocytes growth factor (hHGF) in patients with alcoholic liver disease in relation to hepatic fibrosis

We measured serum levels of human hepatocyte growth factor (hHGF) at the time of liver biopsy in patients with various types of alcoholic liver disease who were negative for HBs antigen and HCV antibody and underwent liver biopsies. Compared to normal populations in the literature, patients with each type of disease excluding fatty liver and alcoholic hepatitis for which there were few cases showed significant high values. The value for liver cirrhosis patients was significantly higher than those for all other diseases except fatty liver. Serum hHGF showed a good correlation only with the degree of hepatic fibrosis among histological finding. Serum hHGF values showed a good positive correlation with values of serum fibrotic markers such as type IV collagen and laminin. Serum hHGF levels dropped after abstinence, but there was a significant correlation with the severity of hepatic fibrosis and serum levels of laminin at all times. Serum hHGF was assumed to show some relation with hepatic fibrosis.