ASSESSMENT OF FIBRONECTIN AND COLLAGEN IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATIC SCHISTOSOMIASIS, CHRONIC HEPATITIS (B OR C) AND MIXED LESIONS.

Abstract

100 cases were included in this study and divided into 7 groups. To all cases we meassured serum fibronectin and serum PiliP, and also we assessed the hepatic fibroncctin and collagen in addition to routine examination. We•found that hepatic fibrosis (and cirrhosis) is affected by The aetiology of chronic hepatitis,. Also the aetiology affects the amount and distribution of tissue fibronectin. We found also that tissue fibroncctin, serum fibroncctin and serum PiliP arc

indicators of the grades of activity. Also tissue fibronectin and serum P1IIP are indicators of hepatic fibrosis (collagen deposition). Serum fibronectin and serum PiliP levels are increased in patients with chronic viral hepatitis, while in patients with hepatic schistosomiasis, scmm fibronectin is nOt increased. we found that Serum fibronectin is correlated with the hepatic extracellular fibronectin. while it is not correlated with the hepatic intracellular fibroncctin. Positive correlation is detected between the serum PiliP level and serum fibronectin level in the total number of cases. Serum fibroncctin , serum PlllP and tissue fibronectin are specific markers for fibrogenesis in non complicated cases of chronic viral hepatitis and schistosoma! hepatic fibrosis. Intervention with antifibrotic drugs could improve or reverse the fibrogenic activity. at this early stages. And further studies involving anti fibrogcnic activities arc recommended.