Plasma fibronectin and alcoholic liver disease
Ricciardi, R.; Restuccia, G.; Chindemi, G.
Quaderni Sclavo di Diagnostica Clinica E di Laboratorio 23(2): 153-163
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0033-4979 PMID: 3451292 Document Number: 288546
The authors examined, in 58 chronic alcoholics, the behaviour of plasma fibronectin, SGPT and seric albumin. Among the patients, ten were without liver damage while the others were affected with alcoholic liver disease at different stages, such as steatosis (12), steatofibrosis (14), evolutive chronic hepatitis (10), cirrhosis (12). The levels of plasma fibronectin appeared significantly increased in the cases with steatofibrosis, evolutive chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis; unimportant changes were noted in the cases with steatosis. SGPT always resulted increased, showing the existence of cytolysis related with plasma fibronectin levels, while seric albumin was constantly reduced with negative ratio to fibronectin levels, except in cases of decompensated cirrhosis. The authors believe that the monitoring of plasma fibronectin in chronic alcoholics may be a suitable means to reveal an increased liver fibrosis.