Significance of biochemical indices of liver fibrosis

Correlation between content of hydroxyproline in urine, protein-bound hydroxyproline, alpha 2-macroglobulin as well as of collagen peptidase activity in blood serum and the intensity of collagen accumulation in liver tissue were studied in experimental liver tissue cirrhosis, which developed after chronic intoxication of rats with CCl4. Distinct relationship was shown between the level of hydroxyprolinuria and amount of collagen in liver tissue. Content of protein-bound hydroxyproline, alpha 2-macroglobulin and the collagen peptidase activity were quite unaltered in blood serum during the cirrhosis development. Protein-bound hydroxyproline and alpha 2-macroglobulin were markedly decreased in blood serum at the step of decompensated cirrhosis. Among the biochemical patterns studied in biological fluids only estimation of hydroxyproline in urine might distinctly reflect the intensity of liver tissue fibrosis.