Biochemical markers of fibrogenesis in pediatric chronic liver diseases

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Non-invasive diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis has become the focus, especially in the surveillance of treatment and in screening hepatic fibrosis. To investigate the clinical usefulness of fibrogenesis markers in evaluating liver fibrosis, we determined serum levels of TGF-beta1, collagen IV, and laminin., and their relationships with frequently used liver function tests, and findings of liver ultrasonography and liver biopsy were investigated