Urinary transforming growth factor beta(1) levels in hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease: Correlation between high levels and severity of disease

To assess the clinical relevance of transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) in chronic liver disease, urinary TGF-beta(1) and circulating aminoterminal propeptides of type III procollagen (PIIINP) levels were determined by radioimmunoassay in 100 cirrhotic patients, 44 patients with chronic hepatitis, and 50 healthy controls, TGF-beta(1) and PIIINP levels in cirrhotic patients were higher than those in patients with chronic hepatitis (each P < .0001) or healthy controls (each P < .0001), respectively, There was a correlation between TGF-beta(1) and PIIINP levels in patients (r = .858, P < .0001), The higher the urinary TGF-beta(1) level, the worse the severity of chronic liver disease (P < .001), TGF-beta(1) levels in cirrhotic patients with antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) were higher than in those without (P < .0001), Compared with cirrhotic patients with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) alone, those with HBsAg and anti-HCV had higher TGF-beta(1) levels (P < .001), a higher frequency of raised TGF-beta(1) (P < .005), and a higher frequency of patients with Child-Pugh C (P < .005). Multivariate analysis indicated that the TGF-beta(1) level was significantly correlated with the presence of cirrhosis, In conclusion, urinary TGF-beta(1) levels may be used as a marker for hepatic fibrogenesis, Higher urinary TGF-beta(1) levels correlate with more severe liver disease.