Niemelä O, Risteli L, Sotaniemi E A, Risteli J
Gastroenterology. 1983 Aug;85(2):254-9.
An assay of serum antigens related to the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen has been suggested for monitoring fibrotic processes in the liver. These antigens were measured here in 61 alcoholics who were divided into four groups on the basis of liver histology: normal light microscopy, fatty liver, alcoholic cirrhosis with hepatitis, and inactive cirrhosis. All the subjects having alcoholic hepatitis with cirrhosis had elevated values in the assay, whereas some of those with either fatty liver or inactive cirrhosis still had normal values. It was, therefore, not possible on the basis of this method alone to distinguish fatty liver from cirrhosis or alcoholic hepatitis, although very high values were suggestive of alcoholic hepatitis. In a follow-up study, the aminopropeptide value decreased slowly during recovery from alcoholic hepatitis and increased rapidly after a new drinking bout. The antigens detected by the assay are heterogeneous in human serum. The proportions of the three main peptide forms varied during recovery from alcoholic hepatitis, the authentic propeptide being the main one at the acute stage, but almost disappearing later. The usefulness of the assay could probably be improved if distinct assays were available for the different antigen forms.
有人提出检测与III型前胶原氨基端前肽相关的血清抗原，用于监测肝脏纤维化进程。在此对61名酗酒者的这些抗原进行了检测，这些酗酒者根据肝脏组织学分为四组：光镜检查正常、脂肪肝、伴有肝炎的酒精性肝硬化以及静止期肝硬化。所有患有酒精性肝炎合并肝硬化的受试者检测值均升高，而一些患有脂肪肝或静止期肝硬化的受试者检测值仍正常。因此，仅基于此方法无法区分脂肪肝与肝硬化或酒精性肝炎，尽管检测值非常高提示酒精性肝炎。在一项随访研究中，酒精性肝炎恢复过程中氨基前肽值缓慢下降，再次饮酒发作后迅速升高。该检测法在人血清中检测到的抗原具有异质性。从酒精性肝炎恢复过程中，三种主要肽形式的比例有所变化，急性期主要是真正的前肽，但后来几乎消失。如果能针对不同抗原形式进行单独检测，该检测法的实用性可能会提高。
