Serum Procollagen III Peptide in Alcoholic and Other Chronic Liver Diseases

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Abstract
Increased levels of serum procollagen III peptide (P-III-P) have been found in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Serum P-III-P was increased (>15 .mu.g/l) in 38 of 44 (86%) patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, in 6 of 20 (30%) with fatty liver, in 1 of 13 (8%) with non-alcoholic fatty liver, and in 3 of 14 (21%) with other chronic liver diseases. Median serum P-III-P was almost three times higher in alcoholic liver cirrhosis than in alcoholic fatty liver (p < 0.001). Serum P-III-P was increased in three of six patients with alcoholic fatty liver and periportal fibrosis. In the total material (n = 91), a statistically significant negative correlation between serum P-III-P and albumin (r = -0.71, p < 0.001) and Normotest (r = -0.63, p < 0.001), respectively, and a positive correlation between serum P-III-P and bilirubin (r = 0.65, p < 0.001) were found. The serum level of P-III-P had no prognostic value concerning the mortality in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.