RESUMO
The hepatocyte growth factor receptors [HGFR] are transmembrane proteins that mediate the mitogenic effect of hepatocyte growth factor [HGF] on liver cells. In this study, the expression of liver HGF receptors was assessed in sixty patients with chronic viral hepatitis in order to explore the clinical and pathological significances of their detection in such disease. Liver HGFR expression was demonstrated in 40% of patients and was found in parallel relationship to the degree of hepatic inflammation and necrosis and in negative correlation with the value of prothrombin time. It is concluded that in patients with chronic viral hepatitis the expression of liver HGFR tend to be higher in patients with chronic active hepatitis than in patients with hepatic cirrhosis and may promote better synthetic function of liver cells