Elevated serum type IV collagen: a sensitive indicator of the presence of cirrhosis in haemochromatosis

• Published in: Journal of hepatology 1999-07, Vol.31 (1), p.47-52
• Main Authors: George, D.Keith, Ramm, Grant A, Walker, Neal I, Powell, Lawrie W, Crawford, Darrell H.G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Cirrhosis; Collagen - blood; Collagen type IV; Diagnosis, Differential; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; European Continental Ancestry Group; Gelatinases - blood; Haemochromatosis; Hemochromatosis - blood; Hemochromatosis - diagnosis; Hemochromatosis - genetics; Humans; Iron - metabolism; Laminin; Laminin - blood; Liver - metabolism; Liver - pathology; Liver Cirrhosis - blood; Liver Cirrhosis - diagnosis; Liver Cirrhosis - pathology; Markers of hepatic fibrosis; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Metalloendopeptidases - blood; Metals (hemochromatosis...); Other metabolic disorders; Predictive Value of Tests; Reference Values; Regression Analysis; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 - blood; Tropical medicine
• ISSN: 0168-8278; 1600-0641
• DOI: 10.1016/S0168-8278(99)80162-7

Background/Aim: Hereditary haemochromatosis can now be diagnosed by genetic testing, although determining the presence or absence of cirrhosis remains crucial to patient management. While many studies have investigated the utility of various serum markers of cirrhosis in chronic liver diseases, few have examined specifically patients with hereditary haemochromatosis. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of serum type IV collagen and serum laminin in diagnosing hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with hereditary haemochromatosis. Methods: The study group consisted of 42 patients with hereditary haemochromatosis and 19 Caucasian controls. Serum type IV collagen, laminin, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay in serum from patients with haemochromatosis and control subjects. Liver biopsies from patients with haemochromatosis were graded for fibrosis and correlated with serum markers of hepatic fibrosis. Results: Serum type IV collagen concentration was significantly increased in haemochromatosis patients compared to controls (130±79 ng/ml vs 81±17 ng/ml, p