Serum type-III-procollagen and laminin concentration after interferon therapy in chronic myeloproliferative disorders.

Serum procollagen-III-peptide (P-III-P) and laminin P 1 (LP1) concentrations were measured in 24 patients with various chronic myeloproliferative diseases, viz., essential thrombocythaemia (ET), chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) and myelofibrosis (MF). The highest P-III-P values were found in myelofibrosis. As compared to the controls, the serum laminin concentration was higher in all there groups of patients. No significant difference was found between the groups of patients. After three months of alpha-IFN therapy the P-III-P values became significantly higher, the laminin concentration slightly decreased in all investigated patients. Longitudinal follow-up myeloproliferative patients should be carried out in order to prove whether P-III-P and laminin determinations provide a useful test to monitor the progression of the disease and the effect of the therapy.