[N-terminal peptide of type III procollagen in serum and bronchoalveolar fluid as a marker of collagen metabolism in chronic interstitial lung diseases].

Altered metabolism of collagen and its excessive deposition in the matrix of the connective tissue is a hallmark of chronic interstitial lung diseases. Since fibrosis frequently determines the course and prognosis of these diseases, a noninvasive test for assessment of pulmonary fibrosis would be very helpful. For instance, biochemical parameters which are correlated with collagen metabolism may be very helpful to monitor fibrosis. Type III procollagen N-terminal peptide (PIIIP), a peptide released during the conversion of type III procollagen to type III collagen is considered a potential marker of fibroblast activity in a variety of pulmonary and extrapulmonary diseases. In recent years an assay for the PIIIP has been used to assess collagen turnover both in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with numerous chronic interstitial lung diseases. It is a review of recent studies on the value of determination of type III procollagen aminopeptide in serum and bronchoalveolar fluid in chronic interstitial lung diseases. On the basis of these reports the value of PIIIP as a marker of fibrosis in this group of lung diseases still remains controversial. The investigations on this subject are continued.