BACKGROUND/AIMS: The extent of hepatic fibrosis is important in chronic liver disease. Liver biopsy is essential for diagnosis of fibrosis. However, biopsy is invasive and may not represent the whole liver state. Serum hyaluronic acid (HA), a major component of connective tissues, was introduced as a useful non-invasive index of hepatic fibrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship among HA, the degree of fibrosis, several hematologic and biochemical parameters in patients with chronic liver diseases or post state liver transplantation (PSLT).
METHODS: Total 102 cases were divided into 4 groups: 57 chronic hepatitis (CH), 12 cirrhosis, 21 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 12 PSLT. HA was measured by enzyme-linked binding protein assay and evaluated in relation the degree of fibrosis, several hematologic and biochemical parameters.
RESULTS: Among four groups, HCC showed the highest HA and HA of HCC significantly higher than that of CH. The degree of fibrosis were correlated with HA. HA was correlated with age, platelet count and albumin but, not with ALT and PT. There is no significant relation between HA and the presence of acute rejection in liver transplantation.
CONCLUSIONS: In chronic liver diseases, HA is a useful non-invasive index of hepatic fibrosis and disease severity.
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