Is determination of serum N-terminal procollagen type III peptide (sPIIIP) a marker of hepatic fibrosis?

Serum N-terminal procollagen type III peptide (sPIIIP) levels were evaluated in 58 patients affected by chronic liver disease, in order to assess the usefulness of sPIIIP as a marker of hepatic fibrosis. In 45 patients sPIIIP was also correlated to liver histology; biopsies were scored by two of the authors, without knowledge of diagnosis. Compared to normal controls, sPIIIP concentration was found to be significantly elevated in chronic active hepatitis (CAH) and in cirrhosis, but not in fatty liver. Patients affected by chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) had values of sPIIIP higher than normal in four of 11 cases considered. A close correlation was found between sPIIIP values and histological parameters of inflammation, necrosis, and degeneration, while the relationship between sPIIIP levels and fibrosis was weaker. These data suggest that sPIIIP determination may reflect the extent of inflammatory changes in the liver; but it cannot be considered a reliable index of hepatic fibrosis.