[Proline hydroxylase (hPH) as marker of hepatic fibrosis in beta thalassemia].

Forty-four polytransfused thalassemic patients were considered to evaluate hPH enzyme, involved in collagen synthesis. The aim of this investigation was to verify the usefulness of such assay in the follow-up of liver damage in thalassaemic patients. The patients were separated into two groups: one group with normal transaminase activity and another one with pathological values from more than two years. A group of 20 healty children was chosen for the control values of enzymatic activity. In all patients HCV-Ab was determined. Results obtained confirm the role of viral liver infection in inducing fibrosis in polytransfused thalassaemic patients and suggest the possibility to use hPH assay in their follow-up.