VARIATION OF SERUM ACTIVIN A LEVEL IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS

Objective To evaluate the variation of serum activin A level in liver cirrhotic patients. Methods 83 liver cirrhotic patients (32 Child-Pugh A, 30 Child-Pugh B and 21 Child-Push C) and 32 normal subjects entered the study. The serum levels of activin A, procollagen Ⅲ peptide and collagen Ⅳ were measured by ELISA. Results Compared with those of normal subjects (0. 76±0. 31ng/ml) ,the serum activin A levels were significantly increased in liver cirrhotic patients(1. 33±0. 83ng/ml, P 0. 01). The levels were higher in Child-Pugh C (1. 45±0. 39ng/ml, P 0. 01) and B( 1. 47±0. 81ng/ml, P 0. 01) than in Child-Pugh A (1.00±0. 35 ng/ml) and normal control group(0. 76±0. 31ng/ml). There was no significant difference between Child-Pugh B and C patients or between Child-Pugh A patients and normal control. In corresponding Child-Pugh grades, the serum activin A levels of those suffering from hepatic encephalopathy, digestive tract hemorrhage, infection or ascites were not different from those without such complications. The Serum activin A level was positively correlated with those of procollagen Ⅲ peptides, collagen Ⅳ and alanine aminotransferase. Conclusion Serum activin A was increased in cirrhotic patients and activin A may be involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic flbrosis.