STYDY OF INTER-RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM PROCOLLAGEN III AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE

Abstract

Fibrosis is common in most chronic liver diseases regardless of their aetiology. Originally, liver fibrosis was simply considered as a consequence of hepatocyte necrosis ami consequent collapse. of the proexisting fibrous framework. Advances in connective tissue biology have changed this view and it is now regarded as a dynamic process involving synthesis and degradation of several proteins from the extracellular matrix. Serum procollagen type Ill propeptide is believed 10 rellect synthesis and degradation of type Ill collagen during fibrogencsis. In chronic liver diseases. both ncreased synhesis . of procollagen Ill propeotide (P-111-P) from deposits of connective tissue and its decreased elimination may contribute to the elevation of its serum concentation. In this work 65 patients with chronic liver diseas\! (pure schistosomiasis or HCV or mixed) were selected randomly from National Liver Institute outpatient clinic in addition to . 10 healthy individuals.