Collagen peptidase and type III procollagen peptide serum levels in chronic liver diseases

The concentration of the N-terminal peptide of procollagen III and the activity of collagen peptidase (PZ-peptidase) were measured in sera from 92 patients with chronic liver disease. In patients with liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis with transformation of liver structure, high values were found for both variables compared with hepatoses and chronic hepatitis without transformation. The concentration of procollagen III peptide and the activity of collagen peptidase in serum increased with increasing degrees of fibrosis and, even more markedly, with increasing degrees of mesenchymal activity in the liver.