Abstract
Background and aims. Elevated serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) have been documented in patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD) and with chronic hepatitis (CH). The aim of this study was to determine the presence and density of HGF in liver tissue and the source of this factor in HD patient with CH. Material and methods. Seventy-five hepatic needle-biopsy specimens were investigated, 11 from CH patients (Group 1) and 44 from CH patients on HD (Group 2), plus 20 liver biopsies obtained from healthy individuals as controls (Group 3). All specimens were analyzed immunohistochemically with an HGF antibody. Results. Groups 1 (CH only) and 2 (CH + HD) had significantly (p < 0.05) more HGF-positive nonparenchymal cells than the control group. Also, specimens from CH-only patients (Group 1) had significantly (p < 0.05) more positive staining than those from CH patients on HD (Group 2). Groups 1 and 2 had similar results for grading of CH and fibrosis score. No association was found between the number of HGF-positive cells and necroinflammatory or fibrosis score. Conclusions. The expression of HGF in liver tissue in CH patients on HD was much lower than in CH-only patients. The extrahepatic tissue might be the source of increased HGF serum levels in HD patients.
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