[The extracellular matrix and liver disease: a study with enzymoimmunological assay]

Serum concentrations of laminin and hyaluronate were assayed in 138 patients of liver disease with an enzymoimmunological method. There was a mild increase of hyaluronate level in patients with acute hepatitis (P < 0.05) and a significant increase of both serum laminin and hyaluronate concentrations in patients with chronic hepatic diseases, as compared with those in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Serum laminin and hyaluronate reached the highest levels in patients with liver cirrhosis. Comparing the results from a group of patients with liver cirrhosis with those from a reference group of patients with chronic active hepatitis, we obtained values for specificity, sensitivity, and diagnostic efficiency of 0.90, 0.90 and 0.90 respectively. The results suggested that quantification of serum laminin and hyaluronate may be a useful test to assess the degree of chronic liver injury and to diagnose liver fibrosis.