Hepatocyte growth factor has been shown to be a potent stimulator of DNA synthesis in a wide variety of cell types. The aim of this study was to measure human hepatocyte growth factor (hHGF) in 45 patients with chronic liver diseases and 20 healthy control, using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit. Mean values of serum hHGF in normal control. chronic hepatitis (CH), cirrhosis and schistosomiasis groups were 0.65±0.09, 1.76 ± 0.28, 3.9 ± 1.7 and 1.I0 + 0.27 ndiml respectively. Serum hHGF in these diseases was significantly increased compared to the controls, also the differences were significant among the different disease groups. The levels in schistosomal group were significantly lower than those in other chronic liver diseases while the levels in cirrhotic group were found to be the highest. The levels of liFIGF showed a positive correlation with total and conjugated bilirubin, asparate and alanine aminotransferases and a negative correlation with total proteins and prothrombin activity. These results suggest that serum levels of hHGF vary in liver diseases reflecting liver damage and/or dysfunction. |
